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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,256 in Anderson, SC versus $3,051 in Chicago, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,427 in Anderson, SC versus $4,638 in Chicago, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,598 in Anderson, SC versus $6,224 in Chicago, IL.

Living in Anderson, SC costs roughly 26% less than in Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Anderson, SC 68% above, Chicago, IL 128% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.59 $15.59

$20.67 $20.67

-24.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.1 $84.1

$100 $100

-16.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.19 $12.19

$11.86 $11.86

2.78%

Cappuccino

$4.96 $4.96

$5.54 $5.54

-10.47%

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

$2.63 $2.63

$3.06 $3.06

-14.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$2.48 $2.48

-7.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.05 $4.05

$6.92 $6.92

-41.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.86 $4.86

$8.13 $8.13

-40.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.04 $1.04

-0.96%

White Bread (500g)

$3.92 $3.92

$3.91 $3.91

0.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.43 $5.43

$5.42 $5.42

0.18%

Eggs

$4.08 $4.08

$4.48 $4.48

-8.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.72 $11.72

$14.52 $14.52

-19.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.00 $16.00

$15.21 $15.21

5.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.09 $17.09

$19.25 $19.25

-11.22%

Apples (1kg)

$6.91 $6.91

$5.39 $5.39

28.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 $1.56

$1.69 $1.69

-7.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.40 $5.40

$4.32 $4.32

25.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.98 $5.98

$4.51 $4.51

32.59%

Potato (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$2.56 $2.56

25.39%

Onion (1kg)

$3.40 $3.40

$2.70 $2.70

25.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.49 $2.49

$2.41 $2.41

3.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.68 $2.68

$2.62 $2.62

2.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.34 $7.34

$15.02 $15.02

-51.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.44 $13.44

$14.71 $14.71

-8.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.00 $3.00

$2.48 $2.48

20.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.62 $3.62

$3.69 $3.69

-1.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.33 $4.33

$2.55 $2.55

69.80%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$49.87 $49.87

$75.5 $75.5

-33.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.43 $3.43

$3.29 $3.29

4.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.76 $0.76

$1.43 $1.43

-46.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.14 $10.14

$24.72 $24.72

-58.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$1.09 $1.09

-19.27%

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

$29.0K $29.0K

$31.8K $31.8K

-8.55%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$26.4K $26.4K

1.12%

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

$192 $192

$183 $183

5.00%

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

$56.4 $56.4

$61.8 $61.8

-8.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.1 $64.1

$65.0 $65.0

-1.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.78 $39.78

$76.1 $76.1

-47.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.35 $22.35

$13.04 $13.04

71.40%

Cinema Ticket

$12.16 $12.16

$14.75 $14.75

-17.56%

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

$1,223 $1,223

$2,056 $2,056

-40.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.2K $12.2K

$38.5K $38.5K

-68.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.48 $36.48

$63.9 $63.9

-42.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.25 $30.25

$51.6 $51.6

-41.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.0 $62.0

$97.3 $97.3

-36.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$63.5 $63.5

$147 $147

-56.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,142 $1,142

$2,349 $2,349

-51.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,002 $1,002

$1,581 $1,581

-36.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,818 $1,818

$4,708 $4,708

-61.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,789 $1,789

$2,716 $2,716

-34.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,020 $3,020

$3,976 $3,976

-24.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,468 $2,468

$2,632 $2,632

-6.24%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,224 $3,224

$4,723 $4,723

-31.75%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.54

6.6

-0.91%

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

Last update for Anderson, SC: April 22, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,142 in Anderson, SC and $2,349 in Chicago, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 47% 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: $84 in Anderson, SC vs $100 in Chicago, IL. Groceries flip the comparison at $457 vs $447, with Chicago, IL cheaper for home cooking.

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

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

Anderson, SC is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 35% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Chicago, IL earns 47% 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: $1,142 in Anderson, SC versus $2,349 in Chicago, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Anderson, SC runs roughly 51% less than in Chicago, IL. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $1,223 in Anderson, SC versus $2,056 in Chicago, IL. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $2,256 in Anderson, SC versus $3,051 in Chicago, IL, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Anderson, SC but tight or insufficient in Chicago, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Anderson, SC the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Anderson, SC is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Chicago, IL, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Anderson, SC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 35% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.