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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 24.9% more expensive than Columbia, SC without rent, and 39.4% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 27.6% more expensive than Columbia, SC without rent, and 58.3% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$18.21 $18.21

14.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$60.5 $60.5

65.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$11.9 $11.9

0.59%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$3.82 $3.82

45.55%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.37 $2.37

31.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.86 $1.86

30.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$4.41 $4.41

55.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$5.6 $5.6

50.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.87 $0.87

19.54%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$2.61 $2.61

59.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$3.64 $3.64

51.65%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.26 $4.26

9.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$9.39 $9.39

52.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$12.99 $12.99

14.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$22.61 $22.61

-14.46%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$5.21 $5.21

-0.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.84 $1.84

-7.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$5.27 $5.27

-16.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$3.27 $3.27

37.92%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.19 $3.19

-20.69%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$4.63 $4.63

-40.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.99 $1.99

22.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$1.89 $1.89

42.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$8.53 $8.53

78.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$14.84 $14.84

10.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.02 $2.02

16.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$2.64 $2.64

40.15%

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

$40.68 $40.68

82.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.03 $2.03

64.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.52 $1.52

-6.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$18.06 $18.06

40.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.76 $0.76

42.11%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$30.4K $30.4K

6.76%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.6K $25.6K

2.47%

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

$188 $188

$218 $218

-13.84%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$53.7 $53.7

18.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$60.2 $60.2

8.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$40.01 $40.01

91.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

$7.01 $7.01

85.88%

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$15.19 $15.19

-1.71%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,431 $1,431

44.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$22.3K $22.3K

75.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$56.7 $56.7

13.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$35.31 $35.31

48.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$80.3 $80.3

18.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$116 $116

24.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,306 $1,306

82.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$904 $904

75.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,200 $2,200

116.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$1,290 $1,290

118.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$1,827 $1,827

96.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$1,750 $1,750

42.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$3,526 $3,526

49.59%

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 Columbia, SC: October 29, 2025

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