Atlanta has become a great place to reside in with its beautiful culture, mesmerizing street art and great career opportunities. On the other hand, Chicago is a better place than LA and cleaner than New York at a cheaper cost.
The ultimate question that we can ponder is that one of these places is cheaper to live in. By making a brief comparison of the cost of living in Atlanta and Chicago, we can come to a precise conclusion. So, let’s compare:
Rent
In both cities’ centres, the rent prices are slightly different from those surrounding the center of the city. Both Atlanta and Chicago have a decent rent price compared to other cities like LA, New York, etc.
In Atlanta, you would be paying around $1567 for a one-bedroom apartment in the city center. The price is $1856 in Chicago, which is 18% more.
For a three-bedroom apartment for your family, you are looking at a monthly rent of $2900 in Atlanta. In Chicago, it is 22% more, being $3541 in the city center.
So, in the rent’s overall comparison, it seems like Chicago’s apartments are more expensive.
Utilities
Basic utilities are important to consider when you are counting the cost of living in a city. In Atlanta, the average monthly utility cost for electricity, water, garbage, etc. is $167. For Chicago, it’s $148.
Let’s not forget the internet bill as you have to pay around $71 per month in Atlanta whilst $64 in Chicago. Although there is an average of $7 decrease in the internet bill in Chicago, other major costs are significant.
Grocery
There is a significant shift in prices when it comes to groceries in both cities. The prices of milk, eggs, cheese, chicken fillets, etc., are lower in Chicago compared to Atlanta. So, you would be saving a decent amount per month. Some sources say that the average monthly groceries bill is $324 in Atlanta, and $299 in Chicago, which doesn’t seem too big! So, internet bills and groceries have been two benefits of Chicago so far.
Restaurants
To give you a quick rundown, restaurant bills are higher in Chicago compared to Atlanta. Usually, a basic meal in a roadside restaurant costs $14 in Atlanta and a dollar higher in Chicago. If you are looking for food at a quality restaurant once a week, keep around $200 per month in Atlanta and $288 in Chicago!
Total Cost
So, the real comparison of these two places proves that Atlanta is fairly cheaper than Chicago. In total, you would need to have at least $5,575 per month to live in Chicago. On the other hand, the cost is lower as Atlanta’s monthly spending comes down to $5100.
Conclusion
Both Chicago and Atlanta are excellent places to live in, and even though it is cheaper in Atlanta, the difference is not very significant. However, when you consider the monthly cost and income in both cities, Atlanta has the upper hand.
