Cost of living · head to head
Atlanta, GA is 3% cheaper than Chicago, IL.
Based on overall price levels from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis. 100 equals the national average.
Chicago, ILoverall index
103.6
Atlanta, GAoverall index
100.1
Try your own salary
in Chicago, IL
To live the same in Atlanta, GA, you’d need about $96,622.
That’s about $3,378 less — Atlanta, GA is cheaper.
Where the difference lies
The headline gap is 3%, but housing is where it really shows. Housing in Atlanta, GA runs 1% lower than in Chicago, IL (111 vs 112), 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 Atlanta, GA
| $50,000 in Chicago, IL | $48,311 |
| $75,000 in Chicago, IL | $72,466 |
| $100,000 in Chicago, IL | $96,622 |
| $150,000 in Chicago, IL | $144,932 |
| $200,000 in Chicago, IL | $193,243 |
Each row shows the salary in Atlanta, GA that buys the same standard of living as the amount earned in Chicago, IL.
Chicago, IL · housing
112
Atlanta, GA · housing
111
Common questions
Is Atlanta, GA cheaper than Chicago, IL?
Yes — Atlanta, GA has an overall cost-of-living index of 100.1 versus 103.6 for Chicago, IL, making it about 3% cheaper.
How much do you need to earn in Atlanta, GA to match $100,000 in Chicago, IL?
About $96,622. To keep the same standard of living, salaries scale with local prices, so a $100,000 lifestyle in Chicago, IL costs roughly $96,622 in Atlanta, GA.
Is housing cheaper in Atlanta, GA than in Chicago, IL?
Housing in Atlanta, GA scores 111 versus 112 in Chicago, IL — about 1% cheaper. Housing is usually the biggest driver of the overall gap.
What is the cost of living difference between Chicago, IL and Atlanta, GA?
Overall, Atlanta, GA is about 3% cheaper than Chicago, IL (index 100.1 vs 103.6), with housing 1% lower. Data is from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024.