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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 33.3% more expensive than Clemson, SC without rent, and 14.5% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 51.2% more expensive than Clemson, SC without rent, and 45.5% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$19.14 $19.14

8.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$44.59 $44.59

125.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$10.01 $10.01

19.58%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$4.84 $4.84

14.88%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$1.94 $1.94

60.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.53 $1.53

58.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$4.1 $4.1

67.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$5.96 $5.96

41.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.81 $0.81

28.40%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.16 $3.16

31.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$3.32 $3.32

66.27%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$2.82 $2.82

64.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$9.03 $9.03

58.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$14.66 $14.66

1.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$17.17 $17.17

12.64%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$4.67 $4.67

10.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.08 $1.08

58.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$3 $3

47.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$2.54 $2.54

77.56%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.86 $2.86

-11.54%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.55 $2.55

7.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.44 $1.44

68.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$3.11 $3.11

-13.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$7.47 $7.47

103.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$15.8 $15.8

3.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$3.56 $3.56

-33.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$5.47 $5.47

-32.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.05 $2.05

23.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.42 $3.42

-2.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.87 $1.87

-24.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$23.55 $23.55

7.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.78 $0.78

38.46%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$35.4K $35.4K

-8.47%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$26.4K $26.4K

-0.79%

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

$188 $188

$192 $192

-1.72%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$56.5 $56.5

12.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$70.9 $70.9

-8.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$43.33 $43.33

77.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$16.21 $16.21

-7.90%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$658 $658

213.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$26K $26K

50.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$50.6 $50.6

26.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$39.9 $39.9

31.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$98.3 $98.3

-3.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$112 $112

29.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$976 $976

143.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,368 $1,368

15.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,663 $2,663

78.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$1,825 $1,825

54.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,440 $2,440

47.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,088 $2,088

19.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$3,413 $3,413

54.57%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.54

0.92%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Clemson, SC: October 28, 2025

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