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

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Columbus, GA is 23.3% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 24.6% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Columbus, GA is 28.4% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 44.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Columbus, GA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.76 $17.76
$20.82 $20.82
-14.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.6 $50.6
$100 $100
-49.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.2 $11.2
$11.97 $11.97
-6.43%
Cappuccino
$4.46 $4.46
$5.56 $5.56
-19.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95 $1.95
$3.11 $3.11
-37.30%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.48 $1.48
$2.42 $2.42
-38.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.06 $5.06
$6.86 $6.86
-26.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.83 $6.83
$8.45 $8.45
-19.17%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Columbus, GA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1 $1
$1.04 $1.04
-3.85%
White Bread (500g)
$3.24 $3.24
$4.15 $4.15
-21.93%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.36 $2.36
$5.52 $5.52
-57.25%
Eggs
$2.66 $2.66
$4.65 $4.65
-42.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.51 $10.51
$14.33 $14.33
-26.66%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.68 $9.68
$14.88 $14.88
-34.95%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.3 $9.3
$19.34 $19.34
-51.91%
Apples (1kg)
$4.46 $4.46
$5.17 $5.17
-13.73%
Banana (1kg)
$1.39 $1.39
$1.71 $1.71
-18.71%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.7 $2.7
$4.41 $4.41
-38.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.51 $3.51
$4.51 $4.51
-22.17%
Potato (1kg)
$1.69 $1.69
$2.53 $2.53
-33.20%
Onion (1kg)
$1.81 $1.81
$2.74 $2.74
-33.94%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.61 $1.61
$2.43 $2.43
-33.74%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 $1.82
$2.7 $2.7
-32.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.07 $7.07
$15.19 $15.19
-53.46%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.27 $14.27
$16.42 $16.42
-13.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.7 $1.7
$2.35 $2.35
-27.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27 $1.27
$3.7 $3.7
-65.68%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Columbus, GA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.27 $1.27
$2.53 $2.53
-49.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$52.4 $52.4
$74.1 $74.1
-29.34%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.99 $1.99
$3.34 $3.34
-40.42%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.27 $1.27
$1.42 $1.42
-10.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.1 $21.1
$25.42 $25.42
-16.99%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 $0.83
$1.08 $1.08
-23.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3K $28.3K
$32.4K $32.4K
-12.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.9K $24.9K
$26.2K $26.2K
-4.88%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Columbus, GA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$152 $152
$188 $188
-19.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$40.85 $40.85
$63.7 $63.7
-35.87%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.3 $63.3
$65.2 $65.2
-2.85%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Columbus, GA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$10.05 $10.05
$76.7 $76.7
-86.90%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.45 $7.45
$13.03 $13.03
-42.82%
Cinema Ticket
$10.13 $10.13
$14.93 $14.93
-32.15%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Columbus, GA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$960 $960
$2,063 $2,063
-53.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.9K $23.9K
$39.2K $39.2K
-39.03%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Columbus, GA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.86 $45.86
$64.3 $64.3
-28.69%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.03 $30.03
$52.4 $52.4
-42.68%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.6 $97.6
$95.2 $95.2
2.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 $102
$145 $145
-29.49%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Columbus, GA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,232 $1,232
$2,378 $2,378
-48.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,179 $1,179
$1,584 $1,584
-25.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,386 $1,386
$4,763 $4,763
-70.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,253 $1,253
$2,815 $2,815
-55.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,749 $7,749
$3,588 $3,588
115.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,575 $7,575
$2,490 $2,490
204.17%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Columbus, GA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,681 $3,681
$5,275 $5,275
-30.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.57
6.6
-0.45%

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

Last update for Columbus, GA: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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