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: $3,106 in Chicago, IL versus $2,227 in Anderson, SC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,599 in Chicago, IL versus $3,348 in Anderson, SC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,092 in Chicago, IL versus $4,468 in Anderson, SC.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 39% more expensive than in Anderson, SC, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 126% above, Anderson, SC 62% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.86 $19.86

$14.57 $14.57

36.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.3 $88.3

$76.0 $76.0

16.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.23 $13.23

$11.03 $11.03

19.95%

Cappuccino

$5.86 $5.86

$5.84 $5.84

0.34%

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

$2.61 $2.61

$2.64 $2.64

-1.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 $2.32

$2.24 $2.24

3.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.03 $7.03

$3.93 $3.93

78.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.25 $9.25

$5.14 $5.14

79.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.00 $1.00

34.00%

White Bread (500g)

$4.19 $4.19

$3.63 $3.63

15.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.50 $5.50

$3.45 $3.45

59.42%

Eggs

$4.71 $4.71

$4.68 $4.68

0.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.72 $14.72

$11.66 $11.66

26.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.53 $14.53

$15.59 $15.59

-6.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.69 $19.69

$18.29 $18.29

7.65%

Apples (1kg)

$5.64 $5.64

$5.41 $5.41

4.25%

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.47 $1.47

34.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$4.56 $4.56

-11.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.07 $5.07

$4.62 $4.62

9.74%

Potato (1kg)

$2.94 $2.94

$3.03 $3.03

-2.97%

Onion (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$3.12 $3.12

-6.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.04 $2.04

11.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.12 $3.12

$2.36 $2.36

32.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.19 $16.19

$7.70 $7.70

110.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.17 $15.17

$13.54 $13.54

12.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.36 $2.36

13.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 $3.48

$3.73 $3.73

-6.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.54 $2.54

$4.22 $4.22

-39.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.0 $76.0

$51.0 $51.0

49.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.16 $3.16

$2.96 $2.96

6.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$0.97 $0.97

41.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.66 $22.66

$30.04 $30.04

-24.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$0.85 $0.85

41.18%

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

$37.0K $37.0K

$29.2K $29.2K

26.91%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$24.7K $24.7K

5.44%

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

$190 $190

$172 $172

10.42%

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

$68.5 $68.5

$67.3 $67.3

1.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.1 $61.1

$63.0 $63.0

-3.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.8 $63.8

$40.18 $40.18

58.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.80 $27.80

$22.73 $22.73

22.31%

Cinema Ticket

$18.28 $18.28

$11.90 $11.90

53.61%

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

$1,525 $1,525

$1,474 $1,474

3.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$32.0K $32.0K

$12.1K $12.1K

164.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.0 $64.0

$37.31 $37.31

71.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.4 $54.4

$29.63 $29.63

83.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$63.4 $63.4

58.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 $153

$63.5 $63.5

141.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,421 $2,421

$1,130 $1,130

114.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,690 $1,690

$1,008 $1,008

67.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,584 $4,584

$1,803 $1,803

154.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,782 $2,782

$1,778 $1,778

56.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,170 $4,170

$2,925 $2,925

42.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,739 $2,739

$2,461 $2,461

11.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,777 $4,777

$3,308 $3,308

44.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.07

5.11%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: August 29, 2026

Last update for Anderson, SC: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,421 in Chicago, IL and $1,130 in Anderson, SC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 44% 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: $88.0 in Chicago, IL vs $76.0 in Anderson, SC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $465 vs $422 per month, with Anderson, 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 Anderson, SC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Anderson, SC is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 39% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 44% 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: $2,421 in Chicago, IL versus $1,130 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 49% less than in Chicago, IL. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $1,525 in Chicago, IL versus $1,474 in Anderson, SC. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $2,227 in Anderson, SC versus $3,106 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 39% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.