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

🙂 Solo nomad: Rome, GA is 31% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 29.4% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Rome, GA is 43.3% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 37.9% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rome, GA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.68 $13.68
$20.82 $20.82
-34.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.2 $50.2
$100 $100
-49.98%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.03 $10.03
$11.97 $11.97
-16.21%
Cappuccino
$5.39 $5.39
$5.56 $5.56
-3.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 $2.17
$3.11 $3.11
-30.23%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44 $2.44
$2.42 $2.42
0.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.13 $6.13
$6.86 $6.86
-10.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.45 $7.45
$8.45 $8.45
-11.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rome, GA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.04 $1.04
-
White Bread (500g)
$3.34 $3.34
$4.15 $4.15
-19.52%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.09 $4.09
$5.52 $5.52
-25.91%
Eggs
$4.22 $4.22
$4.65 $4.65
-9.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.47 $7.47
$14.33 $14.33
-47.87%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.65 $7.65
$14.88 $14.88
-48.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.16 $9.16
$19.34 $19.34
-52.64%
Apples (1kg)
$6.17 $6.17
$5.17 $5.17
19.34%
Banana (1kg)
$1.2 $1.2
$1.71 $1.71
-29.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.79 $2.79
$4.41 $4.41
-36.73%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.99 $3.99
$4.51 $4.51
-11.53%
Potato (1kg)
$3.68 $3.68
$2.53 $2.53
45.45%
Onion (1kg)
$5.13 $5.13
$2.74 $2.74
87.23%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.9 $1.9
$2.43 $2.43
-21.81%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 $1.82
$2.7 $2.7
-32.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.72 $6.72
$15.19 $15.19
-55.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.28 $15.28
$16.42 $16.42
-6.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.46 $1.46
$2.35 $2.35
-37.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 $1.52
$3.7 $3.7
-58.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Rome, GA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.01 $2.01
$2.53 $2.53
-20.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.04 $4.04
$3.34 $3.34
20.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.51 $1.51
$1.42 $1.42
6.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.4 $30.4
$25.42 $25.42
19.59%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.87 $0.87
$1.08 $1.08
-19.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.9K $24.9K
$32.4K $32.4K
-23.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K $26.8K
$26.2K $26.2K
2.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rome, GA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$209 $209
$188 $188
11.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$45.04 $45.04
$63.7 $63.7
-29.29%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.6 $53.6
$65.2 $65.2
-17.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rome, GA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$50.7 $50.7
$76.7 $76.7
-33.98%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.46 $12.46
$14.93 $14.93
-16.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rome, GA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$711 $711
$2,063 $2,063
-65.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.2K $18.2K
$39.2K $39.2K
-53.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rome, GA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.95 $24.95
$64.3 $64.3
-61.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.97 $24.97
$52.4 $52.4
-52.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94 $94
$95.2 $95.2
-1.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97 $97
$145 $145
-32.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rome, GA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,262 $1,262
$2,378 $2,378
-46.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,035 $1,035
$1,584 $1,584
-34.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,852 $1,852
$4,763 $4,763
-61.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,611 $1,611
$2,815 $2,815
-42.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,744 $1,744
$3,588 $3,588
-51.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,557 $1,557
$2,490 $2,490
-37.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rome, GA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,666 $2,666
$5,275 $5,275
-49.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.49
6.6
-1.67%

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

Last update for Rome, GA: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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