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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 25.6% more expensive than Aiken, SC without rent, and 32.8% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 20.1% more expensive than Aiken, SC without rent, and 44.7% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$13.63 $13.63

52.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$52.2 $52.2

92.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$9.81 $9.81

22.02%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$3.68 $3.68

51.09%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$1.73 $1.73

79.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.96 $1.96

23.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$5.07 $5.07

35.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$7.53 $7.53

12.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1 $1

4.00%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.33 $3.33

24.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.38 $4.38

26.03%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$3.63 $3.63

28.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$17.21 $17.21

-16.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$16.82 $16.82

-11.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$17.24 $17.24

12.18%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$5.56 $5.56

-7.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$0.67 $0.67

155.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$6.42 $6.42

-31.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$3.87 $3.87

16.54%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.81 $3.81

-33.60%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.72 $2.72

0.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.75 $1.75

38.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$1.9 $1.9

42.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$7.51 $7.51

102.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$13.84 $13.84

18.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.98 $1.98

18.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$3.31 $3.31

11.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.95 $1.95

29.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.06 $3.06

9.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.54 $1.54

-7.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$29.94 $29.94

-15.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.89 $0.89

21.35%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$34K $34K

-4.75%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$24.4K $24.4K

7.53%

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

$188 $188

$140 $140

34.37%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$55.6 $55.6

14.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$70.9 $70.9

-8.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$42.84 $42.84

79.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$13.86 $13.86

7.72%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$566 $566

264.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$24.6K $24.6K

59.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$49.16 $49.16

30.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$35.43 $35.43

47.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$104 $104

-8.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$66.3 $66.3

118.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,603 $1,603

48.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,135 $1,135

39.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$1,814 $1,814

162.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$1,845 $1,845

52.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$1,683 $1,683

113.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$1,340 $1,340

85.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$2,912 $2,912

81.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.51

1.38%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Aiken, SC: October 29, 2025

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