Median one-bedroom rent across the cities we track is $1,576 in Georgia versus $1,258 in Illinois. Overall, Illinois runs roughly 20% cheaper on rent than Georgia, its main day-to-day cost driver.
Median household income across tracked cities is $81,938 in Georgia and $75,134 in Illinois — about 8% higher in Georgia. Georgia has a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax; Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax.
State Taxes
Sales Tax
4%
6.25%
+2.3 pp in Illinois
Income Tax (top rate)
5.19%
4.95%
+0.2 pp in Georgia
Housing (median across tracked cities)
Median 1BR Rent
$1,576
$1,258
+20% in Georgia
Median Home Value
$420,600
$315,200
+25% in Georgia
Income (median across tracked cities)
Median Household Income
$81,938
$75,134
+8% in Georgia
Climate (median across tracked cities)
Avg Annual Temperature
62.6°F
52.7°F
+9.9°F in Georgia
Georgia vs Illinois — FAQ
- Is it cheaper to live in Georgia or Illinois?
- Illinois is cheaper on rent — its median one-bedroom of $1,258 runs about 20% below Georgia's $1,576, based on the cities we track in each state.
- How much more do you need to earn to live in Georgia than in Illinois?
- To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, based on median rent across tracked cities, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Georgia versus $50,000 in Illinois.
- Which has lower taxes, Georgia or Illinois?
- Georgia has a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax. Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax.
Housing, income, and climate are medians across the 1/1 cities we track in Georgia/Illinois — not population-weighted statewide figures. Taxes are exact state-level rates. Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year; NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010; Tax Foundation 2026.