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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.

Chicago vs Atlanta

Atlanta is 3.4% less expensive than Chicago. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities, national average = 100.

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

Category Breakdown

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

Visual Comparison

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

Vertical marker = national average (100)

Salary Equivalents

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

Salary in Chicago Equivalent in Atlanta Difference
$50,000 $48,293 $1,707
$75,000 $72,439 $2,561
$100,000 $96,586 $3,414
$150,000 $144,879 $5,121

Use the salary calculator for custom amounts and reverse direction.

Metro Context

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

Key Differences

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

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

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

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

⇆ Reverse comparison Chicago details → Atlanta details →

Also Compare Chicago 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 Atlanta more expensive than Chicago? ▼
Atlanta is 3.4% less expensive than Chicago. The overall cost index is 100.1 vs 103.6 (national average = 100).
What salary in Atlanta is equivalent to $100K in Chicago? ▼
A $100,000 salary in Chicago has the same purchasing power as $96,586 in Atlanta, based on BEA Regional Price Parity data.
How do housing costs compare between Chicago and Atlanta? ▼
Housing/rents in Chicago are indexed at 112.0 while Atlanta is at 111.0 (national average = 100). Chicago has higher housing costs.
Which is larger - Chicago or Atlanta? ▼
Chicago is larger by population. Chicago has 9,359,555 residents vs 6,176,937 in Atlanta.

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