Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Myrtle Beach, SC Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Myrtle Beach, SC

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 27.4% more expensive than Myrtle Beach, SC without rent, and 8.2% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 31.8% more expensive than Myrtle Beach, SC without rent, and 42.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Myrtle Beach, SC
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$16.43 $16.43
26.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$79.8 $79.8
25.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$10.08 $10.08
18.75%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.57 $4.57
21.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.54 $2.54
22.44%
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
$4.47 $4.47
53.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$7.56 $7.56
11.77%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Myrtle Beach, SC
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1 $1
4.00%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.2 $3.2
29.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$4.25 $4.25
29.88%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$3.9 $3.9
19.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$13.7 $13.7
4.60%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$9.01 $9.01
65.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$16.37 $16.37
18.14%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$4.94 $4.94
4.66%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.26 $1.26
35.71%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$4.18 $4.18
5.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$3.59 $3.59
25.63%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.38 $2.38
6.30%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.86 $2.86
-4.20%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.81 $1.81
34.25%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$1.33 $1.33
103.01%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$7.56 $7.56
100.93%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$12.53 $12.53
31.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.08 $2.08
12.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$1.91 $1.91
93.72%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Myrtle Beach, 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
$3.06 $3.06
9.15%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.66 $1.66
-14.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$29.44 $29.44
-13.65%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.79 $0.79
36.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$19.8K $19.8K
63.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$18.7K $18.7K
40.06%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Myrtle Beach, SC
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$140 $140
34.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$55.1 $55.1
15.69%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$71.6 $71.6
-8.89%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Myrtle Beach, SC
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$22.13 $22.13
246.68%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$10.01 $10.01
49.15%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Myrtle Beach, SC
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,323 $1,323
55.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$25.1K $25.1K
56.19%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Myrtle Beach, SC
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$34.33 $34.33
87.33%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$25.47 $25.47
105.69%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$67 $67
42.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$99.8 $99.8
44.95%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Myrtle Beach, SC
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,510 $1,510
57.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,685 $1,685
-5.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$1,997 $1,997
138.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$1,948 $1,948
44.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,405 $2,405
49.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,272 $2,272
9.59%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Myrtle Beach, SC
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$3,086 $3,086
70.95%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.36
3.77%

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 Myrtle Beach, SC: October 29, 2025

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