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

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Florence, SC is 23.5% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 16.1% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Florence, SC is 28.1% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 20.4% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Florence, SC
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.04 $15.04
$20.82 $20.82
-27.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$65.5 $65.5
$100 $100
-34.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.21 $11.21
$11.97 $11.97
-6.35%
Cappuccino
$5.1 $5.1
$5.56 $5.56
-8.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 $2.37
$3.11 $3.11
-23.79%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 $2.03
$2.42 $2.42
-16.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.99 $3.99
$6.86 $6.86
-41.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.07 $6.07
$8.45 $8.45
-28.17%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Florence, SC
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.92 $0.92
$1.04 $1.04
-11.54%
White Bread (500g)
$3.29 $3.29
$4.15 $4.15
-20.72%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$5.52 $5.52
-18.30%
Eggs
$5.58 $5.58
$4.65 $4.65
20.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9 $9
$14.33 $14.33
-37.19%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$19.18 $19.18
$14.88 $14.88
28.90%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$22.65 $22.65
$19.34 $19.34
17.11%
Apples (1kg)
$4.43 $4.43
$5.17 $5.17
-14.31%
Banana (1kg)
$1.3 $1.3
$1.71 $1.71
-23.98%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.47 $4.47
$4.41 $4.41
1.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.38 $4.38
$4.51 $4.51
-2.88%
Potato (1kg)
$2.25 $2.25
$2.53 $2.53
-11.07%
Onion (1kg)
$4.44 $4.44
$2.74 $2.74
62.04%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.06 $2.06
$2.43 $2.43
-15.23%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.94 $1.94
$2.7 $2.7
-28.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.31 $6.31
$15.19 $15.19
-58.46%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.18 $9.18
$16.42 $16.42
-44.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 $1.77
$2.35 $2.35
-24.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95 $2.95
$3.7 $3.7
-20.27%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Florence, SC
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.02 $2.02
$2.53 $2.53
-20.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.11 $4.11
$3.34 $3.34
23.05%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.34 $2.34
$1.42 $1.42
64.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.9 $28.9
$25.42 $25.42
13.69%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.85 $0.85
$1.08 $1.08
-21.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.2K $29.2K
$32.4K $32.4K
-10.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.3K $24.3K
$26.2K $26.2K
-7.48%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Florence, SC
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$183 $183
$188 $188
-2.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$54.6 $54.6
$63.7 $63.7
-14.24%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.6 $70.6
$65.2 $65.2
8.25%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Florence, SC
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.98 $42.98
$76.7 $76.7
-43.98%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.18 $12.18
$14.93 $14.93
-18.42%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Florence, SC
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,468 $1,468
$2,063 $2,063
-28.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.4K $23.4K
$39.2K $39.2K
-40.39%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Florence, SC
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$39.83 $39.83
$64.3 $64.3
-38.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.12 $30.12
$52.4 $52.4
-42.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 $102
$95.2 $95.2
7.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112 $112
$145 $145
-22.92%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Florence, SC
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$765 $765
$2,378 $2,378
-67.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,357 $1,357
$1,584 $1,584
-14.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,945 $3,945
$4,763 $4,763
-17.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,230 $2,230
$2,815 $2,815
-20.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,759 $2,759
$3,588 $3,588
-23.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,464 $2,464
$2,490 $2,490
-1.04%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Florence, SC
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,535 $2,535
$5,275 $5,275
-51.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.45
6.6
-2.27%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Florence, SC: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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