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

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Clemson, SC is 25% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 12.7% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Clemson, SC is 33.9% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 31.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Clemson, SC
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.14 $19.14
$20.82 $20.82
-8.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.59 $44.59
$100 $100
-55.56%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.01 $10.01
$11.97 $11.97
-16.37%
Cappuccino
$4.84 $4.84
$5.56 $5.56
-12.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 $1.94
$3.11 $3.11
-37.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.53 $1.53
$2.42 $2.42
-36.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.1 $4.1
$6.86 $6.86
-40.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.96 $5.96
$8.45 $8.45
-29.47%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Clemson, SC
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.81 $0.81
$1.04 $1.04
-22.12%
White Bread (500g)
$3.16 $3.16
$4.15 $4.15
-23.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.32 $3.32
$5.52 $5.52
-39.86%
Eggs
$2.82 $2.82
$4.65 $4.65
-39.35%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.03 $9.03
$14.33 $14.33
-36.99%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.66 $14.66
$14.88 $14.88
-1.48%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.17 $17.17
$19.34 $19.34
-11.22%
Apples (1kg)
$4.67 $4.67
$5.17 $5.17
-9.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.71 $1.71
-36.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$3 $3
$4.41 $4.41
-31.97%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.54 $2.54
$4.51 $4.51
-43.68%
Potato (1kg)
$2.86 $2.86
$2.53 $2.53
13.04%
Onion (1kg)
$2.55 $2.55
$2.74 $2.74
-6.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.44 $1.44
$2.43 $2.43
-40.74%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.7 $2.7
15.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.47 $7.47
$15.19 $15.19
-50.82%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.8 $15.8
$16.42 $16.42
-3.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.56 $3.56
$2.35 $2.35
51.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.47 $5.47
$3.7 $3.7
47.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Clemson, SC
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.05 $2.05
$2.53 $2.53
-18.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.42 $3.42
$3.34 $3.34
2.40%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.87 $1.87
$1.42 $1.42
31.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$23.55 $23.55
$25.42 $25.42
-7.36%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.78 $0.78
$1.08 $1.08
-27.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.4K $35.4K
$32.4K $32.4K
9.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K $26.4K
$26.2K $26.2K
0.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Clemson, SC
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$192 $192
$188 $188
1.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$56.5 $56.5
$63.7 $63.7
-11.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.9 $70.9
$65.2 $65.2
8.79%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Clemson, SC
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.33 $43.33
$76.7 $76.7
-43.52%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$16.21 $16.21
$14.93 $14.93
8.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Clemson, SC
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$658 $658
$2,063 $2,063
-68.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$26K $26K
$39.2K $39.2K
-33.71%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Clemson, SC
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.6 $50.6
$64.3 $64.3
-21.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.9 $39.9
$52.4 $52.4
-23.84%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.3 $98.3
$95.2 $95.2
3.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112 $112
$145 $145
-22.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Clemson, SC
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$976 $976
$2,378 $2,378
-58.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,368 $1,368
$1,584 $1,584
-13.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,663 $2,663
$4,763 $4,763
-44.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,825 $1,825
$2,815 $2,815
-35.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,440 $2,440
$3,588 $3,588
-32.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,088 $2,088
$2,490 $2,490
-16.17%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Clemson, SC
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,413 $3,413
$5,275 $5,275
-35.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.54
6.6
-0.91%

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

Last update for Clemson, SC: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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