Cost of living · head to head
Chicago, IL is 3% pricier than Atlanta, GA.
Based on overall price levels from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis. 100 equals the national average.
Atlanta, GAoverall index
100.1
Chicago, ILoverall index
103.6
Try your own salary
in Atlanta, GA
To live the same in Chicago, IL, you’d need about $103,497.
That’s about $3,497 more — Chicago, IL is pricier.
Where the difference lies
The headline gap is 3%, but housing is where it really shows. Housing in Chicago, IL runs 1% higher than in Atlanta, GA (112 vs 111), while everyday goods and services sit closer together. For most people the rent or mortgage line moves the most when relocating between these two metros, so weigh that gap more heavily than the overall figure.
Salary you’d need in Chicago, IL
| $50,000 in Atlanta, GA | $51,748 |
| $75,000 in Atlanta, GA | $77,622 |
| $100,000 in Atlanta, GA | $103,497 |
| $150,000 in Atlanta, GA | $155,245 |
| $200,000 in Atlanta, GA | $206,993 |
Each row shows the salary in Chicago, IL that buys the same standard of living as the amount earned in Atlanta, GA.
Atlanta, GA · housing
111
Chicago, IL · housing
112
Common questions
Is Chicago, IL cheaper than Atlanta, GA?
No — Chicago, IL has an overall cost-of-living index of 103.6 versus 100.1 for Atlanta, GA, making it about 3% more expensive.
How much do you need to earn in Chicago, IL to match $100,000 in Atlanta, GA?
About $103,497. To keep the same standard of living, salaries scale with local prices, so a $100,000 lifestyle in Atlanta, GA costs roughly $103,497 in Chicago, IL.
Is housing cheaper in Chicago, IL than in Atlanta, GA?
Housing in Chicago, IL scores 112 versus 111 in Atlanta, GA — about 1% more expensive. Housing is usually the biggest driver of the overall gap.
What is the cost of living difference between Atlanta, GA and Chicago, IL?
Overall, Chicago, IL is about 3% pricier than Atlanta, GA (index 103.6 vs 100.1), with housing 1% higher. Data is from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024.