Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Hinesville, GA: $1,215 a month against $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $23,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Hinesville, GA
🇺🇸 United States
$1,215
/mo nomad
Chicago, IL
🇺🇸 United States
$3,139
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Hinesville, 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 Hinesville, GA and in Chicago, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,215 per month in Hinesville, GA vs $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

  • Hinesville, GA $1,215
  • Chicago, IL $3,139

A couple spends around $1,837 per month in Hinesville, GA vs $4,627 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

  • Hinesville, GA $1,837
  • Chicago, IL $4,627

A family of three spends $2,459 per month in Hinesville, GA vs $6,115 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

  • Hinesville, GA $2,459
  • Chicago, IL $6,115

Hinesville, GA is about 61% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Hinesville, GA sits 10% below the global median, while Chicago, IL is 132% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hinesville, GA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.58 $17.58
$20.65 $20.65
-14.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.12 $35.12
$90.2 $90.2
-61.08%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.18 $11.18
$12.94 $12.94
-13.60%
Cappuccino
$5.24 $5.24
$5.60 $5.60
-6.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.64 $2.64
-7.95%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87 $1.87
$2.27 $2.27
-17.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.41 $5.41
$6.98 $6.98
-22.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.04 $6.04
$8.83 $8.83
-31.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hinesville, GA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.00 $1.00
$1.27 $1.27
-21.26%
White Bread (500g)
$3.40 $3.40
$3.80 $3.80
-10.53%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.55 $3.55
$5.30 $5.30
-33.02%
Eggs
$3.96 $3.96
$4.76 $4.76
-16.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.03 $12.03
$13.96 $13.96
-13.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.49 $6.49
$14.61 $14.61
-55.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.04 $14.04
$18.77 $18.77
-25.20%
Apples (1kg)
$7.82 $7.82
$5.19 $5.19
50.67%
Banana (1kg)
$3.14 $3.14
$1.98 $1.98
58.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.98 $5.98
$3.93 $3.93
52.16%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.14 $3.14
$4.96 $4.96
-36.69%
Potato (1kg)
$1.90 $1.90
$2.76 $2.76
-31.16%
Onion (1kg)
$3.27 $3.27
$2.76 $2.76
18.48%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.68 $2.68
$2.22 $2.22
20.72%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.15 $2.15
$2.98 $2.98
-27.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.64 $8.64
$14.02 $14.02
-38.37%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.97 $12.97
$15.28 $15.28
-15.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 $1.68
$2.58 $2.58
-34.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.17 $6.17
$3.50 $3.50
76.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Hinesville, GA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$2.47 $2.47
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.8 $74.8
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.56 $3.56
$3.34 $3.34
6.59%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.47 $1.47
$1.43 $1.43
2.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.57 $29.57
$24.32 $24.32
21.59%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.78 $0.78
$1.26 $1.26
-38.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9K $27.9K
$35.0K $35.0K
-20.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$26.1K $26.1K
1.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hinesville, GA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$244 $244
$193 $193
26.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.50 $37.50
$68.3 $68.3
-45.05%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.2 $60.2
$61.3 $61.3
-1.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hinesville, GA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$54.1 $54.1
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$27.92 $27.92
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.23 $15.23
$17.74 $17.74
-14.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hinesville, GA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$351 $351
$1,652 $1,652
-78.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.2K $18.2K
$31.1K $31.1K
-41.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hinesville, GA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92 $36.92
$66.1 $66.1
-44.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.22 $49.22
$51.2 $51.2
-3.94%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.3 $87.3
$100 $100
-12.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$184 $184
$141 $141
30.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hinesville, GA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$2,446 $2,446
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,678 $1,678
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,667 $1,667
$4,717 $4,717
-64.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$2,795 $2,795
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,668 $1,668
$4,105 $4,105
-59.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,662 $1,662
$2,650 $2,650
-37.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hinesville, GA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,227 $5,227
$4,866 $4,866
7.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.81
-3.08%

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

Last update for Hinesville, GA: October 19, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Hinesville, GA
$378
Chicago, IL
$449 19% $72
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hinesville, GA
$342
Chicago, IL
$322 5.8% $20
Eating Out
Hinesville, GA
$293
Chicago, IL
$343 17.1% $50
Clothing & Footwear
Hinesville, GA
$161
Chicago, IL
$161 0.2% $0.4
Sport & Entertainment
Hinesville, GA
$30 *
Chicago, IL
$90 194% $59
Getting Around
Hinesville, GA
$11 *
Chicago, IL
$95 774% $84
Accommodation & Living
Hinesville, GA
- *
Chicago, IL
$1.7K

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

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 7% higher in Hinesville, 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 $35.00 in Hinesville, GA versus $90.0 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $378 vs $449 – making Hinesville, GA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Hinesville, GA
🇺🇸 Chicago, IL
🕒 Local time
06:52 6:52 AM
05:52 5:52 AM
1 h behind Hinesville, GA
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
33,140
2,746,388
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Hinesville, GA Chicago, IL 1,240 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Hinesville, 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
Hinesville, GA vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Hinesville, GA and in Chicago, IL compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,215 in Hinesville, GA, $3,139 in Chicago, IL – roughly 158% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in transport.
What salary covers living expenses in Hinesville, GA compared to Chicago, IL?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,823 per month in Hinesville, GA and $4,708 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Hinesville, GA and $90.0 in Chicago, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 19% more in Chicago, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Hinesville, GA, where all-in costs run around $1,215, than in Chicago, IL at $3,139. In Hinesville, GA it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Hinesville, GA and Chicago, IL?
It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,215 in Hinesville, GA to $3,139 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Hinesville, GA and Chicago, IL?
If budget matters most, go with Hinesville, GA. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Hinesville, GA vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?