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

🙂 Solo nomad: North Charleston, SC is 16.8% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 11.2% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: North Charleston, SC is 16.1% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 21.6% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
North Charleston, SC
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.33 $18.33
$20.82 $20.82
-11.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.8 $84.8
$100 $100
-15.50%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.17 $10.17
$11.97 $11.97
-15.04%
Cappuccino
$6.29 $6.29
$5.56 $5.56
13.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52 $2.52
$3.11 $3.11
-18.97%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33 $2.33
$2.42 $2.42
-3.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.89 $5.89
$6.86 $6.86
-14.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.15 $8.15
$8.45 $8.45
-3.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
North Charleston, SC
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.02 $1.02
$1.04 $1.04
-1.92%
White Bread (500g)
$3.99 $3.99
$4.15 $4.15
-3.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.21 $3.21
$5.52 $5.52
-41.85%
Eggs
$3.68 $3.68
$4.65 $4.65
-20.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.19 $14.19
$14.33 $14.33
-0.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.52 $12.52
$14.88 $14.88
-15.86%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.71 $14.71
$19.34 $19.34
-23.94%
Apples (1kg)
$6.55 $6.55
$5.17 $5.17
26.69%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 $1.69
$1.71 $1.71
-1.17%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.5 $4.5
$4.41 $4.41
2.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.55 $5.55
$4.51 $4.51
23.06%
Potato (1kg)
$2.8 $2.8
$2.53 $2.53
10.67%
Onion (1kg)
$2.91 $2.91
$2.74 $2.74
6.20%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.07 $2.07
$2.43 $2.43
-14.81%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.28 $2.28
$2.7 $2.7
-15.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.67 $7.67
$15.19 $15.19
-49.51%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.46 $15.46
$16.42 $16.42
-5.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84 $1.84
$2.35 $2.35
-21.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63 $2.63
$3.7 $3.7
-28.92%
🚌 Getting Around
North Charleston, SC
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.57 $3.57
$2.53 $2.53
41.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30 $30
$74.1 $74.1
-59.53%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.03 $3.03
$3.34 $3.34
-9.28%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.46 $1.46
$1.42 $1.42
2.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$20.06 $20.06
$25.42 $25.42
-21.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.8 $0.8
$1.08 $1.08
-25.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.4K $29.4K
$32.4K $32.4K
-9.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.9K $24.9K
$26.2K $26.2K
-4.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
North Charleston, SC
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$206 $206
$188 $188
9.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$63.7 $63.7
2.40%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.5 $71.5
$65.2 $65.2
9.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
North Charleston, SC
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.43 $42.43
$76.7 $76.7
-44.69%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.76 $11.76
$14.93 $14.93
-21.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
North Charleston, SC
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$739 $739
$2,063 $2,063
-64.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.4K $14.4K
$39.2K $39.2K
-63.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
North Charleston, SC
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.4 $62.4
$64.3 $64.3
-2.92%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.88 $43.88
$52.4 $52.4
-16.24%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.7 $94.7
$95.2 $95.2
-0.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$141 $141
$145 $145
-2.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
North Charleston, SC
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,937 $1,937
$2,378 $2,378
-18.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,291 $1,291
$1,584 $1,584
-18.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,942 $1,942
$4,763 $4,763
-59.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,936 $1,936
$2,815 $2,815
-31.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,140 $3,140
$3,588 $3,588
-12.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,712 $2,712
$2,490 $2,490
8.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
North Charleston, SC
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,225 $4,225
$5,275 $5,275
-19.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.49
6.6
-1.67%

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

Last update for North Charleston, SC: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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