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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 47.2% more expensive than Beaufort, SC without rent, and 21.5% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 51.4% more expensive than Beaufort, SC without rent, and 34.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Beaufort, SC
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$18.41 $18.41
13.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$85.9 $85.9
16.78%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$11.87 $11.87
0.84%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.67 $4.67
19.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.48 $2.48
25.40%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.03 $2.03
19.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$3.69 $3.69
85.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$3.93 $3.93
115.01%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Beaufort, SC
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.03 $1.03
0.97%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.28 $3.28
26.52%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$3.02 $3.02
82.78%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.03 $4.03
15.38%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$8.98 $8.98
59.58%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$6.25 $6.25
138.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$11.11 $11.11
74.08%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$4.38 $4.38
18.04%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.31 $1.31
30.53%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$3.29 $3.29
34.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$1.99 $1.99
126.63%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.57 $2.57
-1.56%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.2 $2.2
24.55%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.98 $1.98
22.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.58 $2.58
4.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$7.78 $7.78
95.24%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$13.36 $13.36
22.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.9 $1.9
23.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.39 $3.39
9.14%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Beaufort, SC
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.03 $2.03
24.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.93 $3.93
-15.01%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$2.45 $2.45
-42.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$25.28 $25.28
0.55%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.82 $0.82
31.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$25.5K $25.5K
27.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$21.1K $21.1K
24.18%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Beaufort, SC
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$91.7 $91.7
105.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$44.08 $44.08
44.51%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$59.8 $59.8
9.07%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Beaufort, SC
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$25.21 $25.21
204.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$9.93 $9.93
50.35%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Beaufort, SC
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,332 $1,332
54.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$11K $11K
256.80%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Beaufort, SC
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$56.5 $56.5
13.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$45.84 $45.84
14.29%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$88.5 $88.5
7.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$86.1 $86.1
67.97%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Beaufort, SC
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,582 $1,582
50.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,447 $1,447
9.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,834 $2,834
68.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,283 $2,283
23.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$3,611 $3,611
-0.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$3,651 $3,651
-31.79%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Beaufort, SC
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$4,488 $4,488
17.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.53
1.07%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Beaufort, SC: October 29, 2025

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