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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,462 per month in Blythewood, SC vs $3,077 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,248 per month in Blythewood, SC vs $4,628 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,035 per month in Blythewood, SC vs $6,179 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Blythewood, SC is about 20% cheaper than Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Blythewood, SC and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Blythewood, SC by 84%, Chicago, IL by 130%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.08 $12.08

$20.91 $20.91

-42.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.17 $40.17

$98.1 $98.1

-59.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.94 $9.94

$11.86 $11.86

-16.19%

Cappuccino

$3.08 $3.08

$5.60 $5.60

-45.00%

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

$1.79 $1.79

$3.07 $3.07

-41.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$2.47 $2.47

-8.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.76 $6.76

$7.14 $7.14

-5.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.92 $7.92

$8.08 $8.08

-1.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$1.05 $1.05

-17.14%

White Bread (500g)

$1.85 $1.85

$4.11 $4.11

-54.99%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.20 $3.20

$5.61 $5.61

-42.96%

Eggs

$4.46 $4.46

$4.51 $4.51

-1.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.02 $14.02

$14.27 $14.27

-1.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.95 $14.95

$14.89 $14.89

0.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$21.61 $21.61

$19.19 $19.19

12.61%

Apples (1kg)

$8.00 $8.00

$5.14 $5.14

55.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.77 $1.77

-3.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.48 $7.48

$4.39 $4.39

70.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.45 $7.45

$4.56 $4.56

63.38%

Potato (1kg)

$2.91 $2.91

$2.54 $2.54

14.57%

Onion (1kg)

$5.64 $5.64

$2.75 $2.75

105.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.93 $1.93

$2.42 $2.42

-20.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.62 $2.62

27.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.55 $7.55

$14.92 $14.92

-49.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.95 $13.95

$14.80 $14.80

-5.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 $1.79

$2.46 $2.46

-27.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.54 $4.54

$3.73 $3.73

21.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.01 $2.01

$2.48 $2.48

-18.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.4 $75.4

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.04 $3.04

$3.18 $3.18

-4.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.56 $1.56

$1.42 $1.42

9.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$20.10 $20.10

$24.94 $24.94

-19.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.75 $0.75

$1.06 $1.06

-29.25%

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

$33.0K $33.0K

$31.9K $31.9K

3.36%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$26.0K $26.0K

0.21%

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

$140 $140

$185 $185

-24.24%

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

$30.40 $30.40

$61.7 $61.7

-50.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.5 $59.5

$66.9 $66.9

-11.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.41 $17.41

$75.2 $75.2

-76.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.08 $13.08

Cinema Ticket

$11.87 $11.87

$14.71 $14.71

-19.31%

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

$1,320 $1,320

$2,020 $2,020

-34.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$26.2K $26.2K

$39.4K $39.4K

-33.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.73 $44.73

$64.6 $64.6

-30.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.62 $19.62

$52.5 $52.5

-62.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.7 $88.7

$97.8 $97.8

-9.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$98.4 $98.4

$148 $148

-33.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,601 $1,601

$2,313 $2,313

-30.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,363 $1,363

$1,590 $1,590

-14.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,578 $2,578

$4,608 $4,608

-44.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,678 $1,678

$2,779 $2,779

-39.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,645 $2,645

$3,922 $3,922

-32.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,377 $2,377

$2,613 $2,613

-9.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,217 $5,217

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.53

6.6

-1.06%

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

Last update for Blythewood, SC: May 31, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,601 in Blythewood, SC versus $2,313 in Chicago, IL. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $40.00 in Blythewood, SC versus $98.0 in Chicago, IL. Groceries tell a different story – $471 in Blythewood, SC vs $447 in Chicago, IL – so Chicago, IL wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

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

Chicago, IL costs about 25% more than Blythewood, SC, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,693 per month in Blythewood, SC and $4,616 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Blythewood, SC, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $40.00 in Blythewood, SC and $98.0 in Chicago, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 5% cheaper in Chicago, IL – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Blythewood, SC, where all-in costs run around $2,462, than in Chicago, IL at $3,077. In Blythewood, SC it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Blythewood, SC costs $2,462 versus $3,077 in Chicago, IL. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Blythewood, SC. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.