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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,084 in Chicago, IL versus $2,543 in Belton, SC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,637 in Chicago, IL versus $3,746 in Belton, SC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,191 in Chicago, IL versus $4,950 in Belton, SC.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 21% more expensive than in Belton, SC, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 131% above, Belton, SC 90% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.81 $20.81

$19.28 $19.28

7.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.6 $98.6

$74.2 $74.2

32.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.90 $11.90

$10.97 $10.97

8.48%

Cappuccino

$5.84 $5.84

$5.15 $5.15

13.40%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.56 $2.56

19.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.02 $2.02

16.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$5.84 $5.84

17.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.07 $8.07

$7.08 $7.08

13.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

White Bread (500g)

$3.98 $3.98

$3.54 $3.54

12.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.60 $5.60

$4.23 $4.23

32.39%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$4.13 $4.13

10.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.20 $14.20

$12.14 $12.14

16.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.90 $14.90

$11.42 $11.42

30.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.08 $19.08

$15.51 $15.51

23.02%

Apples (1kg)

$5.31 $5.31

$4.81 $4.81

10.40%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.58 $1.58

8.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.24 $4.24

$4.13 $4.13

2.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$4.80 $4.80

-8.96%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.89 $2.89

-11.42%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.88 $2.88

-2.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.04 $2.04

21.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.14 $2.14

26.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.95 $14.95

$9.52 $9.52

57.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.73 $14.73

$14.94 $14.94

-1.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 $2.37

$1.78 $1.78

33.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$3.31 $3.31

7.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.44 $2.44

$2.01 $2.01

21.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.2 $75.2

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.35 $3.35

$3.45 $3.45

-2.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.63 $1.63

-15.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.29 $25.29

$29.76 $29.76

-15.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.83 $0.83

31.33%

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

$32.3K $32.3K

$29.6K $29.6K

9.14%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$26.0K $26.0K

1.49%

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

$188 $188

$184 $184

2.04%

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

$63.3 $63.3

$52.5 $52.5

20.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.2 $66.2

$69.0 $69.0

-4.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.6 $75.6

$42.92 $42.92

76.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.20 $13.20

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$13.67 $13.67

8.27%

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

$2,097 $2,097

$1,322 $1,322

58.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.5K $38.5K

$23.9K $23.9K

60.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.9 $64.9

$50.9 $50.9

27.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.6 $51.6

$40.58 $40.58

27.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.3 $96.3

$87.2 $87.2

10.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$146 $146

$110 $110

33.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,332 $2,332

$1,591 $1,591

46.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,579 $1,579

$1,338 $1,338

18.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,775 $4,775

$2,585 $2,585

84.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,725 $2,725

$2,266 $2,266

20.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,023 $4,023

$2,756 $2,756

46.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,684 $2,684

$2,352 $2,352

14.10%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,981 $4,981

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.51

1.38%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: July 20, 2026

Last update for Belton, SC: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,332 in Chicago, IL and $1,591 in Belton, SC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $99.0 in Chicago, IL vs $74.0 in Belton, SC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $445 vs $387 per month, with Belton, 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 Belton, SC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Belton, SC is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 21% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $4,626 in Chicago, IL and $3,814 in Belton, SC to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,332 in Chicago, IL versus $1,591 in Belton, SC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 15% higher in Chicago, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,084 per month in Chicago, IL versus $2,543 in Belton, SC – a 21% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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

For families, Belton, 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 Belton, SC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.