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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,248 in Aiken, SC versus $3,077 in Chicago, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,271 in Aiken, SC versus $4,628 in Chicago, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,294 in Aiken, SC versus $6,179 in Chicago, IL.

Living in Aiken, SC costs roughly 27% less than in Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Aiken, SC 68% above, Chicago, IL 130% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.75 $13.75

$20.91 $20.91

-34.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.4 $52.4

$98.1 $98.1

-46.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.18 $10.18

$11.86 $11.86

-14.17%

Cappuccino

$3.82 $3.82

$5.60 $5.60

-31.79%

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

$1.74 $1.74

$3.07 $3.07

-43.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.88 $1.88

$2.47 $2.47

-23.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.96 $4.96

$7.14 $7.14

-30.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.71 $7.71

$8.08 $8.08

-4.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.05 $1.05

-0.95%

White Bread (500g)

$3.22 $3.22

$4.11 $4.11

-21.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.40 $4.40

$5.61 $5.61

-21.57%

Eggs

$3.59 $3.59

$4.51 $4.51

-20.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.89 $16.89

$14.27 $14.27

18.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.94 $16.94

$14.89 $14.89

13.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.03 $17.03

$19.19 $19.19

-11.26%

Apples (1kg)

$5.75 $5.75

$5.14 $5.14

11.87%

Banana (1kg)

$0.68 $0.68

$1.77 $1.77

-61.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.60 $6.60

$4.39 $4.39

50.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.94 $3.94

$4.56 $4.56

-13.60%

Potato (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$2.54 $2.54

50.39%

Onion (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.75 $2.75

2.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.78 $1.78

$2.42 $2.42

-26.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 $1.92

$2.62 $2.62

-26.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.53 $7.53

$14.92 $14.92

-49.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.87 $13.87

$14.80 $14.80

-6.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.46 $2.46

-19.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.31 $3.31

$3.73 $3.73

-11.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.48 $2.48

-17.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.4 $75.4

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.93 $2.93

$3.18 $3.18

-7.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 $1.53

$1.42 $1.42

7.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.55 $29.55

$24.94 $24.94

18.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$1.06 $1.06

-16.98%

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

$34.5K $34.5K

$31.9K $31.9K

8.08%

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

$24.5K $24.5K

$26.0K $26.0K

-5.94%

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

$142 $142

$185 $185

-22.95%

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

$55.4 $55.4

$61.7 $61.7

-10.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.6 $72.6

$66.9 $66.9

8.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.90 $42.90

$75.2 $75.2

-42.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.08 $13.08

Cinema Ticket

$14.24 $14.24

$14.71 $14.71

-3.20%

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

$566 $566

$2,020 $2,020

-72.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.6K $24.6K

$39.4K $39.4K

-37.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.57 $48.57

$64.6 $64.6

-24.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.85 $35.85

$52.5 $52.5

-31.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$97.8 $97.8

5.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$64.6 $64.6

$148 $148

-56.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,613 $1,613

$2,313 $2,313

-30.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,128 $1,128

$1,590 $1,590

-29.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,819 $1,819

$4,608 $4,608

-60.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,897 $1,897

$2,779 $2,779

-31.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,700 $1,700

$3,922 $3,922

-56.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,357 $1,357

$2,613 $2,613

-48.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,890 $2,890

$5,217 $5,217

-44.60%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,613 in Aiken, SC and $2,313 in Chicago, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 81% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $52.0 in Aiken, SC vs $98.0 in Chicago, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $431 vs $447 per month, with Aiken, SC cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Aiken, SC vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Aiken, SC wins on cost – living expenses run 37% lower than in Chicago, IL. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Aiken, SC the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Chicago, IL earns 81% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,613 in Aiken, SC versus $2,313 in Chicago, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $566 in Aiken, SC versus $2,020 in Chicago, IL. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Aiken, SC – a meal for two runs $52.0 versus $98.0 in Chicago, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Aiken, SC is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both work as nomad bases, but Aiken, SC delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,248 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Aiken, SC hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Aiken, SC and Chicago, IL are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Aiken, SC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 37% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.