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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,068 in Chicago, IL versus $2,263 in Aiken, SC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,648 in Chicago, IL versus $3,327 in Aiken, SC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,229 in Chicago, IL versus $4,391 in Aiken, SC.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 36% more expensive than in Aiken, SC, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 130% above, Aiken, SC 69% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.17 $20.17

$13.26 $13.26

52.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.5 $99.5

$53.5 $53.5

86.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.23 $12.23

$10.16 $10.16

20.37%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$3.66 $3.66

53.01%

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

$3.12 $3.12

$1.72 $1.72

81.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.87 $1.87

29.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.93 $6.93

$5.06 $5.06

36.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.20 $8.20

$7.72 $7.72

6.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.04 $1.04

3.85%

White Bread (500g)

$3.97 $3.97

$3.33 $3.33

19.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.58 $5.58

$4.21 $4.21

32.54%

Eggs

$4.47 $4.47

$3.57 $3.57

25.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 $14.50

$16.75 $16.75

-13.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.08 $15.08

$16.34 $16.34

-7.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$17.03 $17.03

13.56%

Apples (1kg)

$5.37 $5.37

$5.65 $5.65

-4.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$0.63 $0.63

179.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$6.44 $6.44

-32.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$3.96 $3.96

11.36%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$3.64 $3.64

-30.22%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.75 $2.75

-1.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.49 $2.49

$1.73 $1.73

43.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.60 $2.60

$1.90 $1.90

36.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.80 $14.80

$7.43 $7.43

99.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.18 $15.18

$14.27 $14.27

6.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.01 $2.01

22.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 $3.60

$3.26 $3.26

10.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.98 $1.98

28.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.3 $76.3

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 $3.30

$2.96 $2.96

11.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.53 $1.53

-9.80%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.36 $25.36

$29.53 $29.53

-14.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.87 $0.87

25.29%

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

$31.6K $31.6K

$35.0K $35.0K

-9.54%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$25.0K $25.0K

6.21%

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

$186 $186

$141 $141

32.21%

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

$62.9 $62.9

$54.9 $54.9

14.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.2 $66.2

$73.4 $73.4

-9.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.6 $77.6

$42.55 $42.55

82.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.16 $13.16

Cinema Ticket

$14.74 $14.74

$14.24 $14.24

3.51%

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

$2,039 $2,039

$571 $571

257.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.9K $39.9K

$24.4K $24.4K

63.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 $63.9

$48.65 $48.65

31.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 $51.2

$35.70 $35.70

43.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$105 $105

-9.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$64.4 $64.4

123.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,305 $2,305

$1,610 $1,610

43.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,575 $1,575

$1,166 $1,166

35.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,688 $4,688

$1,823 $1,823

157.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,737 $2,737

$1,841 $1,841

48.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,063 $4,063

$1,663 $1,663

144.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,696 $2,696

$1,372 $1,372

96.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,019 $5,019

$2,957 $2,957

69.72%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Aiken, SC: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,305 in Chicago, IL and $1,610 in Aiken, SC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 70% 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: $99.0 in Chicago, IL vs $53.0 in Aiken, SC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $448 vs $427 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

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

Aiken, SC wins on cost – living expenses run 36% 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.

Average pay runs 70% higher in Chicago, IL, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,305 in Chicago, IL versus $1,610 in Aiken, SC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,039 in Chicago, IL versus $571 in Aiken, SC. 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 $53.0 versus $99.0 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 $2,263 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Aiken, SC hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Chicago, IL and Aiken, SC 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 36% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.