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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 11.3% more expensive than Simpsonville, SC without rent, and 19.8% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 35.7% more expensive than Simpsonville, SC without rent, and 26% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Simpsonville, SC
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$17.91 $17.91
16.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$80.5 $80.5
24.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$10.16 $10.16
17.81%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.96 $4.96
12.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.43 $2.43
27.98%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.89 $1.89
28.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$6.11 $6.11
12.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$6.99 $6.99
20.89%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Simpsonville, SC
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.97 $0.97
7.22%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.94 $3.94
5.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$4.4 $4.4
25.45%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$3.12 $3.12
49.04%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$12.86 $12.86
11.43%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$14.68 $14.68
1.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$16.76 $16.76
15.39%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$5.81 $5.81
-11.02%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.65 $1.65
3.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$6.46 $6.46
-31.73%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.35 $4.35
3.68%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.65 $3.65
-30.68%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.82 $2.82
-2.84%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.74 $1.74
39.66%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$1.9 $1.9
42.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$6.9 $6.9
120.14%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$14.83 $14.83
10.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.62 $1.62
45.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.08 $3.08
20.13%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Simpsonville, SC
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.96 $1.96
29.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$2.95 $2.95
13.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.49 $1.49
-4.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$18.09 $18.09
40.52%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.82 $0.82
31.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$35K $35K
-7.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.1K $25.1K
4.47%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Simpsonville, SC
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$139 $139
35.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$53.6 $53.6
18.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$71.6 $71.6
-8.96%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Simpsonville, SC
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$42.5 $42.5
80.52%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$14.06 $14.06
6.19%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Simpsonville, SC
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,310 $1,310
57.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$10.2K $10.2K
284.12%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Simpsonville, SC
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$46.47 $46.47
38.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$35.33 $35.33
48.29%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$94.6 $94.6
0.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$141 $141
2.52%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Simpsonville, SC
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,610 $1,610
47.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,332 $1,332
18.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,579 $2,579
84.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,255 $2,255
24.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,637 $2,637
36.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,345 $2,345
6.19%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Simpsonville, SC
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.59
0.15%

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 Simpsonville, SC: October 28, 2025

Join the CityCost newsletter โ€“ low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.