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: $3,111 in Chicago, IL versus $2,493 in Beaufort, SC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,680 in Chicago, IL versus $3,541 in Beaufort, SC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,249 in Chicago, IL versus $4,589 in Beaufort, SC.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 25% more expensive than Beaufort, SC, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 131% above, Beaufort, SC 85% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.39 $20.39

$18.34 $18.34

11.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.2 $98.2

$85.7 $85.7

14.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.07 $12.07

$11.86 $11.86

1.77%

Cappuccino

$5.73 $5.73

$4.68 $4.68

22.44%

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

$2.97 $2.97

$2.49 $2.49

19.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.04 $2.04

21.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.99 $6.99

$3.79 $3.79

84.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$3.90 $3.90

110.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.02 $1.02

2.94%

White Bread (500g)

$4.08 $4.08

$3.36 $3.36

21.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.50 $5.50

$3.15 $3.15

74.60%

Eggs

$4.64 $4.64

$3.96 $3.96

17.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$8.72 $8.72

65.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.20 $15.20

$6.24 $6.24

143.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.28 $19.28

$10.90 $10.90

76.88%

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$4.34 $4.34

18.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.32 $1.32

33.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.34 $4.34

$3.13 $3.13

38.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.36 $4.36

$2.01 $2.01

116.92%

Potato (1kg)

$2.44 $2.44

$2.58 $2.58

-5.43%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.22 $2.22

25.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.52 $2.52

$1.97 $1.97

27.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.61 $2.61

1.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.90 $14.90

$8.21 $8.21

81.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.97 $14.97

$14.58 $14.58

2.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$1.93 $1.93

26.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.54 $3.54

$3.35 $3.35

5.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.95 $1.95

24.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.5 $74.5

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.32 $3.32

$3.95 $3.95

-15.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 $1.38

$2.56 $2.56

-46.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.11 $25.11

$25.41 $25.41

-1.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.82 $0.82

32.93%

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

$31.9K $31.9K

$25.6K $25.6K

24.58%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$21.0K $21.0K

27.61%

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

$187 $187

$93.9 $93.9

99.28%

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

$63.5 $63.5

$42.98 $42.98

47.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.5 $65.5

$60.5 $60.5

8.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.7 $75.7

$24.97 $24.97

203.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.05 $13.05

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$9.94 $9.94

48.89%

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

$2,025 $2,025

$1,324 $1,324

52.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.0K $39.0K

$11.3K $11.3K

243.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.2 $64.2

$55.2 $55.2

16.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.7 $51.7

$46.49 $46.49

11.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.6 $95.6

$87.1 $87.1

9.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$85.5 $85.5

69.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,326 $2,326

$1,612 $1,612

44.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,611 $1,611

$1,468 $1,468

9.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,703 $4,703

$2,795 $2,795

68.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,721 $2,721

$2,239 $2,239

21.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,829 $3,829

$3,662 $3,662

4.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,533 $2,533

$3,587 $3,587

-29.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,100 $5,100

$3,790 $3,790

34.57%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.53

1.07%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: June 7, 2026

Last update for Beaufort, SC: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,326 in Chicago, IL and $1,612 in Beaufort, SC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 35% 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 $86.0 in Beaufort, SC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $448 vs $311 per month, with Beaufort, 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 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 25% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Chicago, IL pays 35% 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: $2,326 in Chicago, IL versus $1,612 in Beaufort, SC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 44% higher in Chicago, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,111 per month in Chicago, IL versus $2,493 in Beaufort, SC – a 25% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Beaufort, SC is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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 25% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.