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

🙂 Solo nomad: Columbia, SC is 20% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 28.3% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Columbia, SC is 21.6% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 36.8% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.21 $18.21

$20.82 $20.82

-12.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.5 $60.5

$100 $100

-39.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.9 $11.9

$11.97 $11.97

-0.58%

Cappuccino

$3.82 $3.82

$5.56 $5.56

-31.29%

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

$2.37 $2.37

$3.11 $3.11

-23.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.86 $1.86

$2.42 $2.42

-23.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.41 $4.41

$6.86 $6.86

-35.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.6 $5.6

$8.45 $8.45

-33.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$1.04 $1.04

-16.35%

White Bread (500g)

$2.61 $2.61

$4.15 $4.15

-37.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.64 $3.64

$5.52 $5.52

-34.06%

Eggs

$4.26 $4.26

$4.65 $4.65

-8.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.39 $9.39

$14.33 $14.33

-34.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.99 $12.99

$14.88 $14.88

-12.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.61 $22.61

$19.34 $19.34

16.91%

Apples (1kg)

$5.21 $5.21

$5.17 $5.17

0.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.71 $1.71

7.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.27 $5.27

$4.41 $4.41

19.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.27 $3.27

$4.51 $4.51

-27.49%

Potato (1kg)

$3.19 $3.19

$2.53 $2.53

26.09%

Onion (1kg)

$4.63 $4.63

$2.74 $2.74

68.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 $1.99

$2.43 $2.43

-18.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.89 $1.89

$2.7 $2.7

-30.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.53 $8.53

$15.19 $15.19

-43.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.84 $14.84

$16.42 $16.42

-9.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.35 $2.35

-14.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$3.7 $3.7

-28.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.53 $2.53

-22.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.68 $40.68

$74.1 $74.1

-45.12%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.03 $2.03

$3.34 $3.34

-39.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.42 $1.42

7.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.06 $18.06

$25.42 $25.42

-28.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 $0.76

$1.08 $1.08

-29.63%

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

$30.4K $30.4K

$32.4K $32.4K

-6.33%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$26.2K $26.2K

-2.41%

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

$218 $218

$188 $188

16.06%

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

$53.7 $53.7

$63.7 $63.7

-15.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.2 $60.2

$65.2 $65.2

-7.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.01 $40.01

$76.7 $76.7

-47.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.01 $7.01

$13.03 $13.03

-46.20%

Cinema Ticket

$15.19 $15.19

$14.93 $14.93

1.74%

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

$1,431 $1,431

$2,063 $2,063

-30.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.3K $22.3K

$39.2K $39.2K

-43.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 $56.7

$64.3 $64.3

-11.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.31 $35.31

$52.4 $52.4

-32.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.3 $80.3

$95.2 $95.2

-15.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 $116

$145 $145

-19.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,306 $1,306

$2,378 $2,378

-45.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$904 $904

$1,584 $1,584

-42.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,200 $2,200

$4,763 $4,763

-53.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,290 $1,290

$2,815 $2,815

-54.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,827 $1,827

$3,588 $3,588

-49.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,750 $1,750

$2,490 $2,490

-29.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,526 $3,526

$5,275 $5,275

-33.15%

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 Columbia, SC: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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