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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 11.5% more expensive than Charleston, SC without rent, and 2.4% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 14.2% more expensive than Charleston, SC without rent, and 12.6% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$17.95 $17.95

15.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$79.7 $79.7

25.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$9.9 $9.9

20.91%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.04 $5.04

10.32%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.42 $2.42

28.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.95 $1.95

24.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$5.9 $5.9

16.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$7.94 $7.94

6.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1 $1

4.00%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.75 $3.75

10.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$3.22 $3.22

71.43%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.45 $4.45

4.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$13.9 $13.9

3.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$15.05 $15.05

-1.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$17.03 $17.03

13.56%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$5.79 $5.79

-10.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.66 $1.66

3.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$6.68 $6.68

-33.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.02 $4.02

12.19%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.67 $3.67

-31.06%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.76 $2.76

-0.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.78 $1.78

36.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$1.87 $1.87

44.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$7.62 $7.62

99.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$17.74 $17.74

-7.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.78 $1.78

32.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$3.32 $3.32

11.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.96 $1.96

29.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$57.3 $57.3

29.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.91 $2.91

14.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.53 $1.53

-7.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$20.37 $20.37

24.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.84 $0.84

28.57%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$32.7K $32.7K

-0.85%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$24.6K $24.6K

6.68%

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

$188 $188

$141 $141

33.84%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$54.8 $54.8

16.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$73.4 $73.4

-11.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$29.53 $29.53

159.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

$18.1 $18.1

-28.01%

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$13.29 $13.29

12.34%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,313 $1,313

57.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$24.2K $24.2K

61.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$49.68 $49.68

29.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$36.64 $36.64

42.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$94.6 $94.6

0.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$153 $153

-5.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$2,577 $2,577

-7.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,687 $1,687

-6.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$4,414 $4,414

7.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,638 $2,638

6.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$4,656 $4,656

-22.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$3,200 $3,200

-22.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$4,603 $4,603

14.61%

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: October 29, 2025

Last update for Charleston, SC: October 27, 2025

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