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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,077 in Chicago, IL versus $2,238 in Anderson, SC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,628 in Chicago, IL versus $3,460 in Anderson, SC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,179 in Chicago, IL versus $4,682 in Anderson, SC.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 37% more expensive than Anderson, SC, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 130% above, Anderson, SC 67% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.91 $20.91

$15.32 $15.32

36.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.1 $98.1

$83.9 $83.9

17.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$11.97 $11.97

-0.92%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$4.88 $4.88

14.75%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.76 $2.76

11.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.33 $2.33

6.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.14 $7.14

$3.95 $3.95

80.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.08 $8.08

$4.88 $4.88

65.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.02 $1.02

2.94%

White Bread (500g)

$4.11 $4.11

$3.97 $3.97

3.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

$5.55 $5.55

1.08%

Eggs

$4.51 $4.51

$4.19 $4.19

7.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.27 $14.27

$11.71 $11.71

21.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.89 $14.89

$15.60 $15.60

-4.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.19 $19.19

$17.04 $17.04

12.62%

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$7.09 $7.09

-27.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.48 $1.48

19.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$5.39 $5.39

-18.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.56 $4.56

$6.05 $6.05

-24.63%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$3.18 $3.18

-20.13%

Onion (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$3.30 $3.30

-16.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.53 $2.53

-4.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.77 $2.77

-5.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.92 $14.92

$7.56 $7.56

97.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.80 $14.80

$13.56 $13.56

9.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$3.03 $3.03

-18.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$3.62 $3.62

3.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$4.37 $4.37

-43.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.4 $75.4

$51.0 $51.0

48.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$3.54 $3.54

-10.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$0.74 $0.74

91.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.94 $24.94

$10.04 $10.04

148.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$0.88 $0.88

20.45%

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

$31.9K $31.9K

$29.5K $29.5K

8.08%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$26.3K $26.3K

-0.99%

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

$185 $185

$195 $195

-5.06%

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

$61.7 $61.7

$58.3 $58.3

5.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.9 $66.9

$62.4 $62.4

7.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$39.30 $39.30

91.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.08 $13.08

$22.55 $22.55

-42.00%

Cinema Ticket

$14.71 $14.71

$12.06 $12.06

21.97%

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

$2,020 $2,020

$1,231 $1,231

64.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.4K $39.4K

$12.1K $12.1K

226.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.6 $64.6

$36.64 $36.64

76.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.5 $52.5

$30.10 $30.10

74.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.8 $97.8

$63.4 $63.4

54.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$64.5 $64.5

128.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,313 $2,313

$1,143 $1,143

102.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,590 $1,590

$1,021 $1,021

55.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,608 $4,608

$1,805 $1,805

155.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,779 $2,779

$1,798 $1,798

54.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,922 $3,922

$2,966 $2,966

32.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,613 $2,613

$2,403 $2,403

8.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,217 $5,217

$3,235 $3,235

61.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.54

0.92%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: May 30, 2026

Last update for Anderson, SC: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,313 in Chicago, IL and $1,143 in Anderson, SC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 61% 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: $98.0 in Chicago, IL vs $84.0 in Anderson, SC. Groceries flip the comparison at $447 vs $458, 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

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

Anderson, SC is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 37% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Chicago, IL pays 61% more on average, 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: $2,313 in Chicago, IL versus $1,143 in Anderson, SC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Anderson, SC runs roughly 48% less than in Chicago, IL. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $2,020 in Chicago, IL versus $1,231 in Anderson, SC. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $2,238 in Anderson, SC versus $3,077 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 37% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.