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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 62.2% more expensive than Macon, GA without rent, and 52.3% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 38.8% more expensive than Macon, GA without rent, and 58.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Macon, GA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$13.37 $13.37
55.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$60.5 $60.5
65.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$8.9 $8.9
34.49%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.36 $5.36
3.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.09 $2.09
48.80%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.08 $2.08
16.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$4.89 $4.89
40.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$5.86 $5.86
44.20%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Macon, GA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.84 $0.84
23.81%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$2.9 $2.9
43.10%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$2.35 $2.35
134.89%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$2.74 $2.74
69.71%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$6 $6
138.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$8.76 $8.76
69.86%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$15.21 $15.21
27.15%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$4.47 $4.47
15.66%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.5 $1.5
14.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$3.53 $3.53
24.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.14 $4.14
8.94%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.47 $2.47
2.43%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.15 $3.15
-13.02%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.7 $1.7
42.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$0.8 $0.8
237.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$7.76 $7.76
95.75%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$10.91 $10.91
50.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.64 $1.64
43.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$2.69 $2.69
37.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Macon, GA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.01 $2.01
25.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.43 $3.43
-2.62%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.56 $1.56
-8.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$28.93 $28.93
-12.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.79 $0.79
36.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$27.9K $27.9K
16.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.4K $25.4K
3.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Macon, GA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$108 $108
74.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$44.39 $44.39
43.50%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$62.9 $62.9
3.67%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Macon, GA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$43.65 $43.65
75.76%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$16.04 $16.04
-6.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Macon, GA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$936 $936
120.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$23.2K $23.2K
69.00%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Macon, GA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$58.4 $58.4
10.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$34.66 $34.66
51.15%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$50 $50
90.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$95 $95
52.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Macon, GA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$930 $930
155.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,006 $1,006
57.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$1,428 $1,428
233.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$1,817 $1,817
54.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$1,295 $1,295
177.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$1,305 $1,305
90.89%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Macon, GA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$2,824 $2,824
86.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.57
0.46%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Macon, GA: October 28, 2025

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