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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,077 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,987 in Charleston, SC, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,628 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,266 in Charleston, SC, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,179 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,544 in Charleston, SC, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 3% more than Charleston, SC, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Chicago, IL and Charleston, SC sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 130%, Charleston, SC by 123%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.91 $20.91

$18.31 $18.31

14.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.1 $98.1

$78.6 $78.6

24.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$10.18 $10.18

16.50%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$5.00 $5.00

12.00%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.42 $2.42

26.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.88 $1.88

31.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.14 $7.14

$6.17 $6.17

15.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.08 $8.08

$7.76 $7.76

4.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.01 $1.01

3.96%

White Bread (500g)

$4.11 $4.11

$3.82 $3.82

7.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

$3.18 $3.18

76.42%

Eggs

$4.51 $4.51

$4.67 $4.67

-3.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.27 $14.27

$14.00 $14.00

1.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.89 $14.89

$15.05 $15.05

-1.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.19 $19.19

$17.20 $17.20

11.57%

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$5.72 $5.72

-10.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.66 $1.66

6.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$6.43 $6.43

-31.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.56 $4.56

$4.05 $4.05

12.59%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$3.83 $3.83

-33.68%

Onion (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$2.86 $2.86

-3.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.80 $1.80

34.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$1.96 $1.96

33.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.92 $14.92

$7.30 $7.30

104.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.80 $14.80

$19.70 $19.70

-24.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.86 $1.86

32.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$3.18 $3.18

17.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.04 $2.04

21.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.4 $75.4

$57.5 $57.5

31.09%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$2.94 $2.94

8.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.60 $1.60

-11.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.94 $24.94

$19.70 $19.70

26.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$0.77 $0.77

37.66%

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

$31.9K $31.9K

$33.2K $33.2K

-3.79%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$24.6K $24.6K

5.86%

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

$185 $185

$143 $143

29.77%

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

$61.7 $61.7

$53.8 $53.8

14.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.9 $66.9

$73.3 $73.3

-8.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$29.48 $29.48

154.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.08 $13.08

$18.21 $18.21

-28.17%

Cinema Ticket

$14.71 $14.71

$13.10 $13.10

12.29%

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

$2,020 $2,020

$1,326 $1,326

52.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.4K $39.4K

$24.7K $24.7K

59.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.6 $64.6

$49.37 $49.37

30.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.5 $52.5

$35.46 $35.46

47.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.8 $97.8

$92.4 $92.4

5.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$156 $156

-5.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,313 $2,313

$2,511 $2,511

-7.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,590 $1,590

$1,725 $1,725

-7.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,608 $4,608

$4,406 $4,406

4.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,779 $2,779

$2,698 $2,698

2.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,922 $3,922

$5,667 $5,667

-30.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,613 $2,613

$2,973 $2,973

-12.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,217 $5,217

$4,627 $4,627

12.75%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Charleston, SC: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,313 in Chicago, IL versus $2,511 in Charleston, SC. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 13% higher in Chicago, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $98.0 in Chicago, IL versus $79.0 in Charleston, SC. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $436 – making Charleston, SC the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Charleston, SC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chicago, IL costs about 3% more than Charleston, SC, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,616 per month in Chicago, IL and $4,480 in Charleston, SC. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $2,020 per month in Chicago, IL and $1,326 in Charleston, SC. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 3% more in Chicago, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,077 in Chicago, IL and $2,987 in Charleston, SC. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Charleston, SC costs $2,987 versus $3,077 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 Charleston, 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.