Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and North Charleston, SC Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and North Charleston, SC

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 20.2% more expensive than North Charleston, SC without rent, and 12.6% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 19.2% more expensive than North Charleston, SC without rent, and 27.5% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$18.33 $18.33

13.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$84.8 $84.8

18.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$10.17 $10.17

17.70%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$6.29 $6.29

-11.61%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.52 $2.52

23.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.33 $2.33

3.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$5.89 $5.89

16.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$8.15 $8.15

3.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.02 $1.02

1.96%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.99 $3.99

4.01%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$3.21 $3.21

71.96%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$3.68 $3.68

26.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$14.19 $14.19

0.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$12.52 $12.52

18.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$14.71 $14.71

31.48%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$6.55 $6.55

-21.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.69 $1.69

1.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.5 $4.5

-2.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$5.55 $5.55

-18.74%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.8 $2.8

-9.64%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.91 $2.91

-5.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.07 $2.07

17.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.28 $2.28

18.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$7.67 $7.67

98.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$15.46 $15.46

6.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.84 $1.84

27.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$2.63 $2.63

40.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.57 $3.57

-29.13%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$30 $30

147.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.03 $3.03

10.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.46 $1.46

-2.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$20.06 $20.06

26.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.8 $0.8

35.00%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$29.4K $29.4K

10.15%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$24.9K $24.9K

5.11%

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

$188 $188

$206 $206

-8.80%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$65.2 $65.2

-2.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$71.5 $71.5

-8.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$42.43 $42.43

80.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$11.76 $11.76

26.96%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$739 $739

178.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$14.4K $14.4K

171.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$62.4 $62.4

3.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$43.88 $43.88

19.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$94.7 $94.7

0.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$141 $141

2.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,937 $1,937

22.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,291 $1,291

22.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$1,942 $1,942

145.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$1,936 $1,936

45.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$3,140 $3,140

14.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,712 $2,712

-8.18%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$4,225 $4,225

24.84%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.49

1.69%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for North Charleston, SC: October 29, 2025

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