Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Gainesville, GA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Gainesville, GA

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 37.9% more expensive than Gainesville, GA without rent, and 18.3% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 64% more expensive than Gainesville, GA without rent, and 28.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Gainesville, GA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$14.72 $14.72
41.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$44.12 $44.12
127.43%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$9.88 $9.88
21.15%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.25 $5.25
5.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.2 $2.2
41.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.52 $1.52
59.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$6.18 $6.18
11.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$8.06 $8.06
4.84%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Gainesville, GA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.95 $0.95
9.47%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.3 $3.3
25.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$4.33 $4.33
27.48%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$3.6 $3.6
29.17%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$13.5 $13.5
6.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$13.33 $13.33
11.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$15.75 $15.75
22.79%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$4.43 $4.43
16.70%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.64 $1.64
4.27%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$2.37 $2.37
86.08%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.76 $4.76
-5.25%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.67 $2.67
-5.24%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.92 $2.92
-6.16%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.2 $2.2
10.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$1.96 $1.96
37.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$7.71 $7.71
97.02%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$13.04 $13.04
25.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.66 $1.66
41.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$1.34 $1.34
176.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Gainesville, GA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.95 $1.95
29.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$4.57 $4.57
-26.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.55 $1.55
-8.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$42.25 $42.25
-39.83%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.8 $0.8
35.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$34.6K $34.6K
-6.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$24.2K $24.2K
8.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Gainesville, GA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$176 $176
6.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$38.32 $38.32
66.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$88.2 $88.2
-26.05%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Gainesville, GA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$39.73 $39.73
93.10%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$12.91 $12.91
15.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Gainesville, GA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$2,608 $2,608
-20.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$25.8K $25.8K
52.07%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Gainesville, GA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$57.6 $57.6
11.63%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$44.37 $44.37
18.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$101 $101
-5.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$102 $102
42.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Gainesville, GA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,984 $1,984
19.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,424 $1,424
11.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$1,961 $1,961
142.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,444 $2,444
15.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$3,278 $3,278
9.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,973 $2,973
-16.23%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Gainesville, GA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$3,584 $3,584
47.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.36
3.77%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Gainesville, GA: October 26, 2025

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