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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 30.6% more expensive than Florence, SC without rent, and 19.1% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 39.1% more expensive than Florence, SC without rent, and 25.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Florence, SC
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$15.04 $15.04
38.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$65.5 $65.5
53.19%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$11.21 $11.21
6.78%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.1 $5.1
9.02%
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
$2.03 $2.03
19.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$3.99 $3.99
71.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$6.07 $6.07
39.21%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Florence, SC
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.92 $0.92
13.04%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.29 $3.29
26.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$4.51 $4.51
22.39%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$5.58 $5.58
-16.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$9 $9
59.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$19.18 $19.18
-22.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$22.65 $22.65
-14.61%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$4.43 $4.43
16.70%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.3 $1.3
31.54%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$4.47 $4.47
-1.34%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.38 $4.38
2.97%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.25 $2.25
12.44%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$4.44 $4.44
-38.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.06 $2.06
17.96%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$1.94 $1.94
39.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$6.31 $6.31
140.73%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$9.18 $9.18
78.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.77 $1.77
32.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$2.95 $2.95
25.42%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Florence, SC
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.02 $2.02
25.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$4.11 $4.11
-18.73%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$2.34 $2.34
-39.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$28.9 $28.9
-12.04%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.85 $0.85
27.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$29.2K $29.2K
11.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$24.3K $24.3K
8.08%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Florence, SC
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$183 $183
2.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$54.6 $54.6
16.60%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$70.6 $70.6
-7.62%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Florence, SC
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$42.98 $42.98
78.50%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$12.18 $12.18
22.58%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Florence, SC
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,468 $1,468
40.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$23.4K $23.4K
67.75%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Florence, SC
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$39.83 $39.83
61.46%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$30.12 $30.12
73.94%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$102 $102
-7.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$112 $112
29.73%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Florence, SC
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$765 $765
210.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,357 $1,357
16.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$3,945 $3,945
20.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,230 $2,230
26.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,759 $2,759
30.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,464 $2,464
1.05%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Florence, SC
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$2,535 $2,535
108.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.45
2.33%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Florence, SC: October 29, 2025

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