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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,106 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,262 in Blythewood, SC, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,599 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,202 in Blythewood, SC, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,092 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,141 in Blythewood, SC, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 37% more than Blythewood, SC, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chicago, IL and Blythewood, SC sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 126%, Blythewood, SC by 65%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.86 $19.86

$11.88 $11.88

67.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.3 $88.3

$40.39 $40.39

118.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.23 $13.23

$11.97 $11.97

10.53%

Cappuccino

$5.86 $5.86

$2.96 $2.96

97.97%

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

$2.61 $2.61

$1.83 $1.83

42.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 $2.32

$2.27 $2.27

2.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.03 $7.03

$6.35 $6.35

10.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.25 $9.25

$7.98 $7.98

15.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$0.82 $0.82

63.41%

White Bread (500g)

$4.19 $4.19

$1.77 $1.77

136.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.50 $5.50

$4.56 $4.56

20.61%

Eggs

$4.71 $4.71

$5.43 $5.43

-13.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.72 $14.72

$22.46 $22.46

-34.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.53 $14.53

$14.77 $14.77

-1.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.69 $19.69

$20.38 $20.38

-3.39%

Apples (1kg)

$5.64 $5.64

$8.09 $8.09

-30.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.77 $1.77

11.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$5.09 $5.09

-20.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.07 $5.07

$6.87 $6.87

-26.20%

Potato (1kg)

$2.94 $2.94

$5.14 $5.14

-42.80%

Onion (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$3.68 $3.68

-20.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.00 $2.00

14.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.12 $3.12

$3.36 $3.36

-7.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.19 $16.19

$10.04 $10.04

61.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.17 $15.17

$13.75 $13.75

10.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.88 $2.88

-7.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 $3.48

$3.03 $3.03

14.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.25 $2.25

12.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.0 $76.0

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.16 $3.16

$2.94 $2.94

7.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.22 $1.22

12.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.66 $22.66

$32.40 $32.40

-30.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$0.88 $0.88

36.36%

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

$37.0K $37.0K

$35.8K $35.8K

3.45%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$25.5K $25.5K

2.21%

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

$190 $190

$139 $139

36.72%

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

$68.5 $68.5

$29.60 $29.60

131.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.1 $61.1

$61.0 $61.0

0.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.8 $63.8

$17.37 $17.37

267.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.80 $27.80

Cinema Ticket

$18.28 $18.28

$12.27 $12.27

48.98%

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

$1,525 $1,525

$1,241 $1,241

22.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$32.0K $32.0K

$27.2K $27.2K

17.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.0 $64.0

$45.88 $45.88

39.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.4 $54.4

$20.22 $20.22

169.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$89.5 $89.5

12.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 $153

$100 $100

53.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,421 $2,421

$1,388 $1,388

74.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,690 $1,690

$1,159 $1,159

45.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,584 $4,584

$2,090 $2,090

119.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,782 $2,782

$1,684 $1,684

65.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,170 $4,170

$2,810 $2,810

48.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,739 $2,739

$2,315 $2,315

18.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,777 $4,777

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.07

5.11%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: August 29, 2026

Last update for Blythewood, SC: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,421 in Chicago, IL versus $1,388 in Blythewood, SC. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $88.0 in Chicago, IL versus $40.00 in Blythewood, SC. Groceries tell a different story – $465 in Chicago, IL vs $493 in Blythewood, SC – so Chicago, IL wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Blythewood, SC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chicago, IL costs about 37% more than Blythewood, SC, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,659 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,393 in Blythewood, SC. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Blythewood, SC, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $88.0 in Chicago, IL and $40.00 in Blythewood, SC. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 6% cheaper in Chicago, IL – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,106 in Chicago, IL and $2,262 in Blythewood, SC. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Blythewood, SC costs $2,262 versus $3,106 in Chicago, IL. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Blythewood, SC. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.