Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Cumming, GA: $2,594 a month against $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $5,300 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

124

Cost of Living Index in Cumming, GA
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Cumming, GA Living Index
147

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index

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Cumming, GA

🇺🇸 United States

$2,594

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Cumming, GA and in Chicago, IL

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Cumming, GA and in Chicago, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,594 per month in Cumming, GA vs $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Cumming, GA $2,594
Chicago, IL $3,037

A couple spends around $3,544 per month in Cumming, GA vs $4,518 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Cumming, GA $3,544
Chicago, IL $4,518

A family of three spends $4,493 per month in Cumming, GA vs $5,999 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Cumming, GA $4,493
Chicago, IL $5,999

Cumming, GA is about 15% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both Cumming, GA and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Cumming, GA by 91%, Chicago, IL by 123%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.04 $17.04

$20.71 $20.71

-17.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.3 $70.3

$89.2 $89.2

-21.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.82 $9.82

$13.19 $13.19

-25.55%

Cappuccino

$4.70 $4.70

$5.66 $5.66

-16.96%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.63 $2.63

$2.64 $2.64

-0.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 $2.10

$2.28 $2.28

-7.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.39 $5.39

$6.87 $6.87

-21.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.15 $6.15

$8.84 $8.84

-30.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.25 $1.25

-16.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.09 $3.09

$3.72 $3.72

-16.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.22 $4.22

$5.39 $5.39

-21.71%

Eggs

$4.58 $4.58

$4.74 $4.74

-3.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.84 $12.84

$13.84 $13.84

-7.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.97 $8.97

$14.40 $14.40

-37.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.53 $18.53

$18.38 $18.38

0.82%

Apples (1kg)

$4.77 $4.77

$5.22 $5.22

-8.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.40 $1.40

$1.98 $1.98

-29.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.00 $4.00

$4.06 $4.06

-1.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.00 $4.00

$4.97 $4.97

-19.52%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.67 $2.67

5.24%

Onion (1kg)

$3.08 $3.08

$2.66 $2.66

15.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.10 $2.10

$2.24 $2.24

-6.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$3.13 $3.13

-31.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.64 $8.64

$13.82 $13.82

-37.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.83 $14.83

$14.88 $14.88

-0.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.54 $2.54

-13.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.08 $5.08

$3.51 $3.51

44.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.30 $4.30

$2.43 $2.43

76.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.5 $73.5

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.98 $1.98

$3.18 $3.18

-37.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.33 $2.33

$1.39 $1.39

67.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$31.96 $31.96

$25.03 $25.03

27.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.20 $1.20

-19.17%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$27.7K $27.7K

$35.0K $35.0K

-20.81%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.9K $26.9K

$26.7K $26.7K

0.69%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$172 $172

$194 $194

-11.62%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$58.1 $58.1

$69.5 $69.5

-16.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$94.1 $94.1

$61.6 $61.6

52.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.23 $40.23

$47.90 $47.90

-16.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

Cinema Ticket

$16.37 $16.37

$17.81 $17.81

-8.09%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,211 $1,211

$1,794 $1,794

-32.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,470 $9,470

$31.9K $31.9K

-70.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.62 $39.62

$67.0 $67.0

-40.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.42 $32.42

$52.1 $52.1

-37.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.1 $60.1

$102 $102

-40.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.7 $71.7

$144 $144

-50.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,609 $1,609

$2,526 $2,526

-36.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,411 $1,411

$1,578 $1,578

-10.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,878 $2,878

$4,738 $4,738

-39.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,897 $1,897

$2,693 $2,693

-29.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.2K $10.2K

$4,190 $4,190

144.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,768 $2,768

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,284 $7,284

$4,931 $4,931

47.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.72

6.81

-1.32%

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

Last update for Cumming, GA: October 26, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Cumming, GA

$1.4K 54.4%

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52% 11.9% $167

Groceries & Markets

Cumming, GA

$383 14.8%

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7% 16.7% $64

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Cumming, GA

$324 12.5%

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7% 0.5% $1.5

Eating Out

Cumming, GA

$280 10.8%

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4% 23% $65

Clothing & Footwear

Cumming, GA

$92 3.5%

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4% 78.8% $72

Sport & Entertainment

Cumming, GA

$73 2.8%

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8% 14.4% $11

Getting Around

Cumming, GA

$31 * 1.2%

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1% 203% $63

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,609 in Cumming, GA versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 48% higher in Cumming, GA, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $70 in Cumming, GA versus $89 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $383 vs $447 – making Cumming, GA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Cumming, GA

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

06:18 6:18 AM

05:18 5:18 AM

1 h behind Cumming, GA

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

5,718

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.896 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Cumming, GA Chicago, IL 910 km ≈ 1 h 45 min nonstop flight

From you

Cumming, GA
Chicago, IL

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

Cumming, GA vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,594 in Cumming, GA, $3,037 in Chicago, IL – Cumming, GA comes out roughly 15% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in clothing.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,891 per month in Cumming, GA and $4,555 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Cumming, GA, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,609 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $70 in Cumming, GA and $89 in Chicago, IL. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 17% more in Chicago, IL, though the gap depends on what you buy.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,594 in Cumming, GA and $3,037 in Chicago, IL. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Cumming, GA – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.