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

🙂 Solo nomad: Charleston, SC is 10.3% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 2.4% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Charleston, SC is 12.4% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 11.2% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.95 $17.95

$20.82 $20.82

-13.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.7 $79.7

$100 $100

-20.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.9 $9.9

$11.97 $11.97

-17.29%

Cappuccino

$5.04 $5.04

$5.56 $5.56

-9.35%

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

$2.42 $2.42

$3.11 $3.11

-22.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.42 $2.42

-19.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.9 $5.9

$6.86 $6.86

-13.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.94 $7.94

$8.45 $8.45

-6.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1 $1

$1.04 $1.04

-3.85%

White Bread (500g)

$3.75 $3.75

$4.15 $4.15

-9.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.22 $3.22

$5.52 $5.52

-41.67%

Eggs

$4.45 $4.45

$4.65 $4.65

-4.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.9 $13.9

$14.33 $14.33

-3.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.05 $15.05

$14.88 $14.88

1.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.03 $17.03

$19.34 $19.34

-11.94%

Apples (1kg)

$5.79 $5.79

$5.17 $5.17

11.99%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 $1.66

$1.71 $1.71

-2.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.68 $6.68

$4.41 $4.41

51.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.02 $4.02

$4.51 $4.51

-10.86%

Potato (1kg)

$3.67 $3.67

$2.53 $2.53

45.06%

Onion (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.74 $2.74

0.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.78 $1.78

$2.43 $2.43

-26.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.87 $1.87

$2.7 $2.7

-30.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.62 $7.62

$15.19 $15.19

-49.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.74 $17.74

$16.42 $16.42

8.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 $1.78

$2.35 $2.35

-24.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.32 $3.32

$3.7 $3.7

-10.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.53 $2.53

-22.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.3 $57.3

$74.1 $74.1

-22.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.91 $2.91

$3.34 $3.34

-12.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 $1.53

$1.42 $1.42

7.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$20.37 $20.37

$25.42 $25.42

-19.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 $0.84

$1.08 $1.08

-22.22%

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$32.4K $32.4K

0.86%

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

$24.6K $24.6K

$26.2K $26.2K

-6.26%

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

$141 $141

$188 $188

-25.28%

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

$54.8 $54.8

$63.7 $63.7

-14.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.4 $73.4

$65.2 $65.2

12.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.53 $29.53

$76.7 $76.7

-61.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.1 $18.1

$13.03 $13.03

38.91%

Cinema Ticket

$13.29 $13.29

$14.93 $14.93

-10.98%

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

$1,313 $1,313

$2,063 $2,063

-36.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.2K $24.2K

$39.2K $39.2K

-38.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.68 $49.68

$64.3 $64.3

-22.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.64 $36.64

$52.4 $52.4

-30.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.6 $94.6

$95.2 $95.2

-0.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 $153

$145 $145

5.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,577 $2,577

$2,378 $2,378

8.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,687 $1,687

$1,584 $1,584

6.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,414 $4,414

$4,763 $4,763

-7.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,638 $2,638

$2,815 $2,815

-6.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,656 $4,656

$3,588 $3,588

29.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,200 $3,200

$2,490 $2,490

28.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,603 $4,603

$5,275 $5,275

-12.75%

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 Charleston, SC: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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