Cost of Living Comparison Between Aiken, SC and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Aiken, SC and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Aiken, SC is 20.4% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 24.7% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Aiken, SC is 16.7% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 30.9% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.63 $13.63

$20.82 $20.82

-34.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.2 $52.2

$100 $100

-48.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.81 $9.81

$11.97 $11.97

-18.05%

Cappuccino

$3.68 $3.68

$5.56 $5.56

-33.81%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 $1.73

$3.11 $3.11

-44.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.42 $2.42

-19.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.07 $5.07

$6.86 $6.86

-26.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.53 $7.53

$8.45 $8.45

-10.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$1 $1

$1.04 $1.04

-3.85%

White Bread (500g)

$3.33 $3.33

$4.15 $4.15

-19.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$5.52 $5.52

-20.65%

Eggs

$3.63 $3.63

$4.65 $4.65

-21.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.21 $17.21

$14.33 $14.33

20.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.82 $16.82

$14.88 $14.88

13.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.24 $17.24

$19.34 $19.34

-10.86%

Apples (1kg)

$5.56 $5.56

$5.17 $5.17

7.54%

Banana (1kg)

$0.67 $0.67

$1.71 $1.71

-60.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.42 $6.42

$4.41 $4.41

45.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.87 $3.87

$4.51 $4.51

-14.19%

Potato (1kg)

$3.81 $3.81

$2.53 $2.53

50.59%

Onion (1kg)

$2.72 $2.72

$2.74 $2.74

-0.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.75 $1.75

$2.43 $2.43

-27.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.9 $1.9

$2.7 $2.7

-29.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.51 $7.51

$15.19 $15.19

-50.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.84 $13.84

$16.42 $16.42

-15.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.35 $2.35

-15.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.31 $3.31

$3.7 $3.7

-10.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.53 $2.53

-22.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.06 $3.06

$3.34 $3.34

-8.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.42 $1.42

8.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.94 $29.94

$25.42 $25.42

17.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$1.08 $1.08

-17.59%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$34K $34K

$32.4K $32.4K

4.99%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$24.4K $24.4K

$26.2K $26.2K

-7.00%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$140 $140

$188 $188

-25.58%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$55.6 $55.6

$63.7 $63.7

-12.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.9 $70.9

$65.2 $65.2

8.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.84 $42.84

$76.7 $76.7

-44.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$13.86 $13.86

$14.93 $14.93

-7.17%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$566 $566

$2,063 $2,063

-72.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.6K $24.6K

$39.2K $39.2K

-37.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.16 $49.16

$64.3 $64.3

-23.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.43 $35.43

$52.4 $52.4

-32.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 $104

$95.2 $95.2

9.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$66.3 $66.3

$145 $145

-54.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,603 $1,603

$2,378 $2,378

-32.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,135 $1,135

$1,584 $1,584

-28.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,814 $1,814

$4,763 $4,763

-61.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,845 $1,845

$2,815 $2,815

-34.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,683 $1,683

$3,588 $3,588

-53.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,340 $1,340

$2,490 $2,490

-46.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,912 $2,912

$5,275 $5,275

-44.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

6.6

-1.36%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Aiken, SC: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Similar cities

Berlin

🇩🇪 Germany

Hong Kong

🇭🇰 Hong Kong (China)

Tallinn

🇪🇪 Estonia

Seoul

🇰🇷 South Korea

Perth

🇦🇺 Australia

Auckland

🇳🇿 New Zealand

Turin

🇮🇹 Italy

Abu Dhabi

🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates