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

🙂 Solo nomad: Gainesville, GA is 27.5% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 15.5% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Gainesville, GA is 39% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 22.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gainesville, GA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.72 $14.72
$20.82 $20.82
-29.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.12 $44.12
$100 $100
-56.03%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.88 $9.88
$11.97 $11.97
-17.46%
Cappuccino
$5.25 $5.25
$5.56 $5.56
-5.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.2 $2.2
$3.11 $3.11
-29.26%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 $1.52
$2.42 $2.42
-37.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.18 $6.18
$6.86 $6.86
-9.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.06 $8.06
$8.45 $8.45
-4.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gainesville, GA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$1.04 $1.04
-8.65%
White Bread (500g)
$3.3 $3.3
$4.15 $4.15
-20.48%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.33 $4.33
$5.52 $5.52
-21.56%
Eggs
$3.6 $3.6
$4.65 $4.65
-22.58%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.5 $13.5
$14.33 $14.33
-5.79%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.33 $13.33
$14.88 $14.88
-10.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.75 $15.75
$19.34 $19.34
-18.56%
Apples (1kg)
$4.43 $4.43
$5.17 $5.17
-14.31%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 $1.64
$1.71 $1.71
-4.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.37 $2.37
$4.41 $4.41
-46.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.76 $4.76
$4.51 $4.51
5.54%
Potato (1kg)
$2.67 $2.67
$2.53 $2.53
5.53%
Onion (1kg)
$2.92 $2.92
$2.74 $2.74
6.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.2 $2.2
$2.43 $2.43
-9.47%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.96 $1.96
$2.7 $2.7
-27.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.71 $7.71
$15.19 $15.19
-49.24%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.04 $13.04
$16.42 $16.42
-20.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 $1.66
$2.35 $2.35
-29.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 $1.34
$3.7 $3.7
-63.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Gainesville, GA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.95 $1.95
$2.53 $2.53
-22.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.57 $4.57
$3.34 $3.34
36.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.55 $1.55
$1.42 $1.42
9.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$42.25 $42.25
$25.42 $25.42
66.21%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.8 $0.8
$1.08 $1.08
-25.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.6K $34.6K
$32.4K $32.4K
6.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.2K $24.2K
$26.2K $26.2K
-7.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gainesville, GA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$176 $176
$188 $188
-6.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.32 $38.32
$63.7 $63.7
-39.84%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$88.2 $88.2
$65.2 $65.2
35.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gainesville, GA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.73 $39.73
$76.7 $76.7
-48.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.91 $12.91
$14.93 $14.93
-13.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gainesville, GA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,608 $2,608
$2,063 $2,063
26.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$25.8K $25.8K
$39.2K $39.2K
-34.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gainesville, GA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.6 $57.6
$64.3 $64.3
-10.42%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.37 $44.37
$52.4 $52.4
-15.31%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 $101
$95.2 $95.2
6.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 $102
$145 $145
-29.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gainesville, GA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,984 $1,984
$2,378 $2,378
-16.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,424 $1,424
$1,584 $1,584
-10.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,961 $1,961
$4,763 $4,763
-58.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,444 $2,444
$2,815 $2,815
-13.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,278 $3,278
$3,588 $3,588
-8.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,973 $2,973
$2,490 $2,490
19.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gainesville, GA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,584 $3,584
$5,275 $5,275
-32.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.36
6.6
-3.64%

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

Last update for Gainesville, GA: October 26, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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