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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,117 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,890 in North Charleston, SC, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,695 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,285 in North Charleston, SC, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,273 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,679 in North Charleston, SC, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 8% more than North Charleston, SC, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Chicago, IL and North Charleston, SC sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 128%, North Charleston, SC by 111%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.92 $19.92

$20.29 $20.29

-1.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.5 $88.5

$90.5 $90.5

-2.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.94 $12.94

$12.21 $12.21

5.98%

Cappuccino

$5.54 $5.54

$5.95 $5.95

-6.89%

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

$2.74 $2.74

$3.02 $3.02

-9.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$2.55 $2.55

-7.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.12 $7.12

$5.92 $5.92

20.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.73 $8.73

$8.11 $8.11

7.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.00 $1.00

34.00%

White Bread (500g)

$4.17 $4.17

$3.69 $3.69

13.01%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.73 $5.73

$4.79 $4.79

19.62%

Eggs

$4.89 $4.89

$5.09 $5.09

-3.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.77 $14.77

$7.19 $7.19

105.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.85 $14.85

$14.39 $14.39

3.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.61 $19.61

$20.83 $20.83

-5.86%

Apples (1kg)

$5.57 $5.57

$7.82 $7.82

-28.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 $1.92

$1.86 $1.86

3.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.17 $4.17

$5.00 $5.00

-16.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.86 $4.86

$6.34 $6.34

-23.34%

Potato (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$4.28 $4.28

-33.64%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$3.29 $3.29

-14.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.59 $2.59

-15.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.06 $3.06

$2.04 $2.04

50.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.16 $16.16

$9.63 $9.63

67.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.82 $14.82

$15.45 $15.45

-4.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.11 $2.11

19.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.35 $3.35

$3.08 $3.08

8.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.49 $2.49

2.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.6 $75.6

$49.83 $49.83

51.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 $3.30

$2.95 $2.95

11.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.27 $1.27

7.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.12 $25.12

$31.74 $31.74

-20.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$0.86 $0.86

36.05%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

$35.6K $35.6K

1.05%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.3K $25.3K

3.58%

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

$191 $191

$221 $221

-13.57%

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

$67.9 $67.9

$73.6 $73.6

-7.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.7 $61.7

$85.4 $85.4

-27.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.5 $63.5

$17.30 $17.30

266.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.14 $27.14

Cinema Ticket

$18.02 $18.02

$14.19 $14.19

26.99%

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

$1,522 $1,522

$940 $940

61.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.3K $31.3K

$18.1K $18.1K

73.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.7 $63.7

$63.8 $63.8

-0.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.3 $55.3

$45.00 $45.00

22.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$111 $111

-9.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 $153

$132 $132

15.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,406 $2,406

$2,026 $2,026

18.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,653 $1,653

$1,387 $1,387

19.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,577 $4,577

$2,437 $2,437

87.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,771 $2,771

$2,373 $2,373

16.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,031 $4,031

$2,867 $2,867

40.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,745 $2,745

$2,810 $2,810

-2.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,804 $4,804

$4,289 $4,289

12.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.03

5.80%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: September 13, 2026

Last update for North Charleston, SC: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,406 in Chicago, IL versus $2,026 in North Charleston, SC. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 12% higher in Chicago, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $88.0 in Chicago, IL versus $90.0 in North Charleston, SC. Groceries tell a different story – $464 in Chicago, IL vs $446 in North Charleston, SC – so North Charleston, SC wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Chicago, IL vs North Charleston, SC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,117 in Chicago, IL, $2,890 in North Charleston, SC – roughly 8% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,676 per month in Chicago, IL and $4,335 in North Charleston, SC. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in North Charleston, SC, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 4% more in Chicago, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $88.0 in Chicago, IL and $90.0 in North Charleston, SC. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,117 in Chicago, IL and $2,890 in North Charleston, SC. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,890 in North Charleston, SC to $3,117 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with North Charleston, SC. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.