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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,166 in Chicago, IL versus $2,336 in Beaufort, SC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,669 in Chicago, IL versus $3,514 in Beaufort, SC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,173 in Chicago, IL versus $4,692 in Beaufort, SC.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 36% more expensive than in Beaufort, SC, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 133% above, Beaufort, SC 72% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.41 $20.41

$18.60 $18.60

9.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$85.3 $85.3

$101 $101

-15.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.76 $13.76

$11.96 $11.96

15.05%

Cappuccino

$5.72 $5.72

$5.35 $5.35

6.92%

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

$2.73 $2.73

$2.43 $2.43

12.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.04 $2.04

9.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.81 $6.81

$3.70 $3.70

84.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.15 $9.15

$4.04 $4.04

126.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 $1.30

$0.91 $0.91

42.86%

White Bread (500g)

$4.08 $4.08

$3.12 $3.12

30.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.56 $5.56

$3.63 $3.63

53.17%

Eggs

$4.87 $4.87

$3.89 $3.89

25.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.06 $14.06

$8.65 $8.65

62.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.63 $14.63

$6.28 $6.28

132.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.27 $19.27

$11.12 $11.12

73.29%

Apples (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$4.70 $4.70

5.74%

Banana (1kg)

$2.01 $2.01

$1.29 $1.29

55.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.11 $4.11

$3.76 $3.76

9.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.93 $4.93

$1.98 $1.98

148.99%

Potato (1kg)

$2.85 $2.85

$2.47 $2.47

15.38%

Onion (1kg)

$2.60 $2.60

$2.21 $2.21

17.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.06 $2.06

14.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$2.37 $2.37

26.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.04 $16.04

$9.95 $9.95

61.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.90 $14.90

$14.68 $14.68

1.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.07 $2.07

24.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 $3.48

$3.09 $3.09

12.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.56 $2.56

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.6 $75.6

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.26 $3.26

$1.46 $1.46

123.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.14 $1.14

21.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.64 $19.64

$13.97 $13.97

40.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 $1.15

$0.74 $0.74

55.41%

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

$37.1K $37.1K

$25.5K $25.5K

45.65%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$20.9K $20.9K

22.53%

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

$196 $196

$91.5 $91.5

114.23%

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

$69.3 $69.3

$56.6 $56.6

22.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.6 $60.6

$65.7 $65.7

-7.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.3 $61.3

$24.52 $24.52

150.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.91 $27.91

Cinema Ticket

$18.31 $18.31

$9.94 $9.94

84.21%

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

$1,530 $1,530

$1,318 $1,318

16.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.7K $30.7K

$12.1K $12.1K

153.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.4 $62.4

$55.0 $55.0

13.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.6 $52.6

$42.70 $42.70

23.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.0 $98.0

$103 $103

-4.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$147 $147

$132 $132

12.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,435 $2,435

$1,551 $1,551

56.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,703 $1,703

$1,360 $1,360

25.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,574 $4,574

$2,794 $2,794

63.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,799 $2,799

$2,108 $2,108

32.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,090 $4,090

$3,595 $3,595

13.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,706 $2,706

$3,650 $3,650

-25.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,826 $4,826

$4,209 $4,209

14.67%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.13

4.08%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: August 10, 2026

Last update for Beaufort, SC: August 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,435 in Chicago, IL and $1,551 in Beaufort, SC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 15% 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: $85.0 in Chicago, IL vs $101 in Beaufort, SC. Groceries flip the comparison at $455 vs $312, with Beaufort, SC 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 Beaufort, SC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Beaufort, SC is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 36% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 15% 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: $2,435 in Chicago, IL versus $1,551 in Beaufort, SC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 46% higher in Chicago, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,166 per month in Chicago, IL versus $2,336 in Beaufort, SC – a 36% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,336 in Beaufort, SC versus $3,166 in Chicago, IL, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Beaufort, SC but tight or insufficient in Chicago, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Beaufort, SC the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Beaufort, 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 Beaufort, 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.