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: $3,084 in Chicago, IL versus $2,278 in Anderson, SC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,637 in Chicago, IL versus $3,450 in Anderson, SC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,191 in Chicago, IL versus $4,623 in Anderson, SC.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 35% more expensive than in Anderson, SC, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 131% above, Anderson, SC 70% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.81 $20.81

$15.78 $15.78

31.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.6 $98.6

$83.2 $83.2

18.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.90 $11.90

$11.82 $11.82

0.68%

Cappuccino

$5.84 $5.84

$4.91 $4.91

18.94%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.68 $2.68

14.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.29 $2.29

2.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$4.11 $4.11

67.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.07 $8.07

$5.06 $5.06

59.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$0.98 $0.98

7.14%

White Bread (500g)

$3.98 $3.98

$3.80 $3.80

4.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.60 $5.60

$5.65 $5.65

-0.88%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$4.24 $4.24

7.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.20 $14.20

$11.79 $11.79

20.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.90 $14.90

$15.95 $15.95

-6.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.08 $19.08

$17.17 $17.17

11.12%

Apples (1kg)

$5.31 $5.31

$7.03 $7.03

-24.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.56 $1.56

9.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.24 $4.24

$5.51 $5.51

-23.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$6.00 $6.00

-27.17%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$3.14 $3.14

-18.47%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$3.33 $3.33

-15.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.44 $2.44

1.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.76 $2.76

-2.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.95 $14.95

$7.71 $7.71

93.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.73 $14.73

$13.54 $13.54

8.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 $2.37

$3.01 $3.01

-21.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$3.77 $3.77

-5.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.44 $2.44

$4.37 $4.37

-44.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.2 $75.2

$50.2 $50.2

49.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.35 $3.35

$3.44 $3.44

-2.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$0.79 $0.79

73.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.29 $25.29

$10.18 $10.18

148.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.81 $0.81

34.57%

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

$32.3K $32.3K

$28.8K $28.8K

12.12%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$26.6K $26.6K

-0.61%

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

$188 $188

$195 $195

-3.39%

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

$63.3 $63.3

$58.6 $58.6

7.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.2 $66.2

$62.8 $62.8

5.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.6 $75.6

$39.78 $39.78

89.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.20 $13.20

$22.45 $22.45

-41.20%

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$12.15 $12.15

21.81%

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

$2,097 $2,097

$1,248 $1,248

67.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.5K $38.5K

$11.8K $11.8K

227.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.9 $64.9

$36.35 $36.35

78.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.6 $51.6

$29.84 $29.84

72.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.3 $96.3

$62.4 $62.4

54.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$146 $146

$63.4 $63.4

130.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,332 $2,332

$1,150 $1,150

102.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,579 $1,579

$1,036 $1,036

52.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,775 $4,775

$1,793 $1,793

166.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,725 $2,725

$1,784 $1,784

52.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,023 $4,023

$2,941 $2,941

36.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,684 $2,684

$2,407 $2,407

11.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,981 $4,981

$3,225 $3,225

54.45%

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: July 20, 2026

Last update for Anderson, SC: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,332 in Chicago, IL and $1,150 in Anderson, SC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 54% 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 $83.0 in Anderson, SC. Groceries flip the comparison at $445 vs $459, 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 35% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 54% 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: $2,332 in Chicago, IL versus $1,150 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 50% less than in Chicago, IL. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $2,097 in Chicago, IL versus $1,248 in Anderson, SC. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $2,278 in Anderson, SC versus $3,084 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 35% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.