Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Hilton Head Island, SC Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Hilton Head Island, SC

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 23.6% more expensive than Hilton Head Island, SC without rent, and 1.3% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 50.7% more expensive than Hilton Head Island, SC without rent, and 36.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Hilton Head Island, SC
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$20.07 $20.07
3.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$60.7 $60.7
65.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$12.19 $12.19
-1.80%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.7 $4.7
18.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.91 $2.91
6.87%
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
$4.86 $4.86
41.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$5.56 $5.56
51.98%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Hilton Head Island, SC
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.76 $0.76
36.84%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.56 $3.56
16.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$3.04 $3.04
81.58%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$2.9 $2.9
60.34%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$8.68 $8.68
65.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$9.37 $9.37
58.80%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$13.4 $13.4
44.33%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$4.36 $4.36
18.58%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.46 $1.46
17.12%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$3.16 $3.16
39.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4 $4
12.75%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.74 $2.74
-7.66%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.35 $3.35
-18.21%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$3.09 $3.09
-21.36%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.57 $2.57
5.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$7.84 $7.84
93.75%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$13.31 $13.31
23.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.92 $1.92
22.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.4 $3.4
8.82%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Hilton Head Island, SC
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.03 $2.03
24.63%
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
$2.45 $2.45
-42.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$25.45 $25.45
-0.12%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.69 $0.69
56.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$26.4K $26.4K
22.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$24.9K $24.9K
5.48%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Hilton Head Island, SC
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$194 $194
-2.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$42.94 $42.94
48.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$60.2 $60.2
8.23%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Hilton Head Island, SC
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$19.89 $19.89
285.72%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$13.89 $13.89
7.49%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Hilton Head Island, SC
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,329 $1,329
55.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$11K $11K
254.73%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Hilton Head Island, SC
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$34.93 $34.93
84.11%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$34.64 $34.64
51.24%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$80 $80
19.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$69.8 $69.8
107.19%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Hilton Head Island, SC
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$2,121 $2,121
12.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,808 $1,808
-12.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,341 $2,341
103.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,207 $2,207
27.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$3,601 $3,601
-0.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$3,609 $3,609
-31.00%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Hilton Head Island, SC
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$3,206 $3,206
64.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.53
1.07%

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 Hilton Head Island, SC: October 28, 2025

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