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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 39.2% more expensive than Rome, GA without rent, and 43.5% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 47.4% more expensive than Rome, GA without rent, and 59.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Rome, GA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.53 $20.53
$13.60 $13.60
50.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$102 $102
$50.6 $50.6
100.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.03 $12.03
$9.80 $9.80
22.76%
Cappuccino
$5.62 $5.62
$5.63 $5.63
-0.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07 $3.07
$2.18 $2.18
40.83%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.42 $2.42
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.98 $6.98
$5.86 $5.86
19.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.10 $8.10
$7.45 $7.45
8.72%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Rome, GA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.01 $1.01
6.93%
White Bread (500g)
$3.95 $3.95
$3.26 $3.26
21.17%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$4.04 $4.04
36.63%
Eggs
$4.55 $4.55
$4.30 $4.30
5.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.58 $14.58
$7.30 $7.30
99.73%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.91 $14.91
$7.26 $7.26
105.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.83 $18.83
$9.44 $9.44
99.47%
Apples (1kg)
$5.34 $5.34
$6.10 $6.10
-12.46%
Banana (1kg)
$1.76 $1.76
$1.15 $1.15
53.04%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.39 $4.39
$2.80 $2.80
56.79%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.37 $4.37
$3.98 $3.98
9.80%
Potato (1kg)
$2.55 $2.55
$3.70 $3.70
-31.08%
Onion (1kg)
$2.78 $2.78
$5.01 $5.01
-44.51%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.46 $2.46
$1.85 $1.85
32.97%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.66 $2.66
$1.79 $1.79
48.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.74 $14.74
$6.79 $6.79
117.08%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.17 $15.17
$14.71 $14.71
3.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.45 $2.45
$1.40 $1.40
75.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 $3.68
$1.52 $1.52
142.11%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Rome, GA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.52 $2.52
$1.97 $1.97
27.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.5 $74.5
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.29 $3.29
$4.05 $4.05
-18.77%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.43 $1.43
$1.51 $1.51
-5.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.86 $24.86
$30.41 $30.41
-18.25%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 $1.09
$0.87 $0.87
25.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.3K $31.3K
$24.5K $24.5K
27.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K $26.8K
$26.1K $26.1K
2.77%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Rome, GA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$187 $187
$212 $212
-11.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$62.4 $62.4
$44.88 $44.88
38.95%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.1 $67.1
$54.2 $54.2
23.97%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Rome, GA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$75.2 $75.2
$49.81 $49.81
50.91%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.17 $13.17
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.21 $15.21
$12.29 $12.29
23.76%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Rome, GA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,039 $2,039
$705 $705
189.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.3K $39.3K
$18.5K $18.5K
112.18%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Rome, GA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.0 $64.0
$24.88 $24.88
157.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.6 $50.6
$25.45 $25.45
98.78%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.4 $95.4
$90.7 $90.7
5.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$144 $144
$96.2 $96.2
49.25%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Rome, GA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,355 $2,355
$1,278 $1,278
84.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,613 $1,613
$1,034 $1,034
55.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,728 $4,728
$1,815 $1,815
160.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,754 $2,754
$1,613 $1,613
70.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,803 $3,803
$1,754 $1,754
116.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,580 $2,580
$1,758 $1,758
46.75%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Rome, GA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,738 $4,738
$2,694 $2,694
75.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.49
1.69%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: April 14, 2026

Last update for Rome, GA: April 13, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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