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: $3,158 in Chicago, IL versus $2,408 in Beaufort, SC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,702 in Chicago, IL versus $3,511 in Beaufort, SC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,246 in Chicago, IL versus $4,614 in Beaufort, SC.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 31% more expensive than in Beaufort, SC, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 134% above, Beaufort, SC 78% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.39 $20.39

$18.76 $18.76

8.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$91.6 $91.6

$100 $100

-8.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.78 $12.78

$12.07 $12.07

5.88%

Cappuccino

$5.61 $5.61

$5.27 $5.27

6.45%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$2.43 $2.43

8.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.96 $1.96

19.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.15 $7.15

$3.81 $3.81

87.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.17 $9.17

$4.09 $4.09

124.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 $1.27

$0.91 $0.91

39.56%

White Bread (500g)

$4.16 $4.16

$3.09 $3.09

34.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.81 $5.81

$3.68 $3.68

57.88%

Eggs

$4.89 $4.89

$4.07 $4.07

20.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.05 $15.05

$8.72 $8.72

72.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.72 $14.72

$6.13 $6.13

140.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.37 $19.37

$11.11 $11.11

74.35%

Apples (1kg)

$5.62 $5.62

$4.43 $4.43

26.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.99 $1.99

$1.32 $1.32

50.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.14 $4.14

$3.91 $3.91

5.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.04 $5.04

$1.99 $1.99

153.27%

Potato (1kg)

$2.96 $2.96

$2.50 $2.50

18.40%

Onion (1kg)

$2.83 $2.83

$2.22 $2.22

27.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.22 $2.22

$2.03 $2.03

9.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.14 $3.14

$2.40 $2.40

30.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.17 $16.17

$9.68 $9.68

67.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.87 $14.87

$15.27 $15.27

-2.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.17 $2.17

16.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 $3.45

$3.21 $3.21

7.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.46 $2.46

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.9 $73.9

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.28 $3.28

$1.53 $1.53

114.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.18 $1.18

16.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.06 $25.06

$14.06 $14.06

78.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 $1.16

$0.81 $0.81

43.21%

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

$36.6K $36.6K

$25.7K $25.7K

42.41%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$20.8K $20.8K

26.20%

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

$190 $190

$94.4 $94.4

101.22%

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

$69.5 $69.5

$60.2 $60.2

15.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.9 $59.9

$69.4 $69.4

-13.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.4 $63.4

$24.94 $24.94

154.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.95 $27.95

Cinema Ticket

$17.65 $17.65

$9.94 $9.94

77.57%

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

$1,550 $1,550

$1,311 $1,311

18.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.6K $31.6K

$12.1K $12.1K

160.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.3 $62.3

$63.3 $63.3

-1.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.0 $56.0

$47.93 $47.93

16.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$114 $114

-9.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$157 $157

$155 $155

1.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,382 $2,382

$1,562 $1,562

52.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,699 $1,699

$1,340 $1,340

26.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,665 $4,665

$2,783 $2,783

67.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,785 $2,785

$2,117 $2,117

31.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,170 $4,170

$3,691 $3,691

12.97%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,677 $2,677

$3,677 $3,677

-27.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,105 $5,105

$4,100 $4,100

24.50%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.19

3.07%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: September 27, 2026

Last update for Beaufort, SC: September 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,382 in Chicago, IL and $1,562 in Beaufort, SC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 25% 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: $92.0 in Chicago, IL vs $100 in Beaufort, SC. Groceries flip the comparison at $466 vs $313, 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, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 31% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 25% 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: $2,382 in Chicago, IL versus $1,562 in Beaufort, SC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 49% higher in Chicago, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,158 per month in Chicago, IL versus $2,408 in Beaufort, SC – a 31% 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 31% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.