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Select two U.S. metro areas to compare their Regional Price Parity (RPP) indices for goods, services, and housing, plus salary equivalents.

Atlanta vs Chicago

Chicago is 3.5% more expensive than Atlanta. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities, national average = 100.

Metro A
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
100.1
Overall RPP
100.4
Goods
96.2
Services
111.0
Rents
Metro B
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
103.6
Overall RPP
107.3
Goods
83.6
Services
112.0
Rents

Category Breakdown

Category Atlanta Chicago Diff (B−A)
Overall Cost 100.1 103.6 +3.5
Goods 100.4 107.3 +6.8
Services 96.2 83.6 -12.7
Rents/Housing 111.0 112.0 +1.0

Visual Comparison

Overall Cost Higher than Atlanta
Atlanta
100.1
Chicago
103.6
Goods Higher than Atlanta
Atlanta
100.4
Chicago
107.3
Services Lower than Atlanta
Atlanta
96.2
Chicago
83.6
Rents/Housing About the same as Atlanta
Atlanta
111.0
Chicago
112.0

Vertical marker = national average (100)

Salary Equivalents

What you would need to earn in Chicago to match your purchasing power in Atlanta:

Salary in Atlanta Equivalent in Chicago Difference
$50,000 $51,767 +$1,767
$75,000 $77,651 +$2,651
$100,000 $103,535 +$3,535
$150,000 $155,302 +$5,302

Use the salary calculator for custom amounts and reverse direction.

Metro Context

Metric Atlanta Chicago
Population 6,176,937 9,359,555
Median Household Income $86,338 $88,850
Data Year 2024 2024
State GA IL

Key Differences

Overall Cost: Chicago is 3.5 points pricier than Atlanta (100.1 vs 103.6).

Goods: Chicago is 6.8 points pricier than Atlanta (100.4 vs 107.3).

Services: Atlanta is 12.7 points cheaper than Chicago (96.2 vs 83.6).

Rents/Housing: Chicago is 1.0 points pricier than Atlanta (111.0 vs 112.0).

⇆ Reverse comparison Atlanta details → Chicago details →

Also Compare Atlanta With

vs New York-Newark-Jersey City vs Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim vs Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington vs Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands vs Washington-Arlington-Alexandria vs Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Chicago more expensive than Atlanta? ▼
Chicago is 3.5% more expensive than Atlanta. The overall cost index is 103.6 vs 100.1 (national average = 100).
What salary in Chicago is equivalent to $100K in Atlanta? ▼
A $100,000 salary in Atlanta has the same purchasing power as $103,535 in Chicago, based on BEA Regional Price Parity data.
How do housing costs compare between Atlanta and Chicago? ▼
Housing/rents in Atlanta are indexed at 111.0 while Chicago is at 112.0 (national average = 100). Chicago has higher housing costs.
Which is larger - Atlanta or Chicago? ▼
Chicago is larger by population. Atlanta has 6,176,937 residents vs 9,359,555 in Chicago.

Explore More Data

Salary Calculator → Cost Rankings → All Metros → Rent Data → Salary Data → Relocation Guide →

Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by Metropolitan Statistical Area Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by Metropolitan Statistical Area Index where U.S. average = 100