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

🙂 Solo nomad: Summerville, SC is 20.7% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 26.4% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Summerville, SC is 18.5% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 27.4% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Summerville, SC
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.62 $16.62
$20.82 $20.82
-20.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$89.5 $89.5
$100 $100
-10.81%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.6 $12.6
$11.97 $11.97
5.26%
Cappuccino
$4.78 $4.78
$5.56 $5.56
-14.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81 $2.81
$3.11 $3.11
-9.65%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97 $0.97
$2.42 $2.42
-59.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.55 $4.55
$6.86 $6.86
-33.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.83 $5.83
$8.45 $8.45
-31.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Summerville, SC
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.93 $0.93
$1.04 $1.04
-10.58%
White Bread (500g)
$2.91 $2.91
$4.15 $4.15
-29.88%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4 $4
$5.52 $5.52
-27.54%
Eggs
$2.55 $2.55
$4.65 $4.65
-45.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.32 $8.32
$14.33 $14.33
-41.94%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.7 $8.7
$14.88 $14.88
-41.53%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.69 $15.69
$19.34 $19.34
-18.87%
Apples (1kg)
$4.91 $4.91
$5.17 $5.17
-5.03%
Banana (1kg)
$1.26 $1.26
$1.71 $1.71
-26.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.16 $4.16
$4.41 $4.41
-5.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.58 $3.58
$4.51 $4.51
-20.62%
Potato (1kg)
$2.02 $2.02
$2.53 $2.53
-20.16%
Onion (1kg)
$2.1 $2.1
$2.74 $2.74
-23.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.91 $1.91
$2.43 $2.43
-21.40%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 $1.37
$2.7 $2.7
-49.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.66 $7.66
$15.19 $15.19
-49.57%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.19 $12.19
$16.42 $16.42
-25.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.98 $1.98
$2.35 $2.35
-15.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 $2.97
$3.7 $3.7
-19.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Summerville, SC
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.03 $2.03
$2.53 $2.53
-19.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.4 $3.4
$3.34 $3.34
1.80%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.45 $1.45
$1.42 $1.42
2.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$32.69 $32.69
$25.42 $25.42
28.60%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.75 $0.75
$1.08 $1.08
-30.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.1K $20.1K
$32.4K $32.4K
-38.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19K $19K
$26.2K $26.2K
-27.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Summerville, SC
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$152 $152
$188 $188
-19.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$63.7 $63.7
-0.06%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.7 $71.7
$65.2 $65.2
10.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Summerville, SC
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.52 $44.52
$76.7 $76.7
-41.97%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.11 $10.11
$14.93 $14.93
-32.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Summerville, SC
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,511 $1,511
$2,063 $2,063
-26.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.8K $23.8K
$39.2K $39.2K
-39.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Summerville, SC
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.76 $49.76
$64.3 $64.3
-22.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.06 $25.06
$52.4 $52.4
-52.17%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$112 $112
$95.2 $95.2
17.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.5 $98.5
$145 $145
-31.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Summerville, SC
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,978 $1,978
$2,378 $2,378
-16.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,159 $1,159
$1,584 $1,584
-26.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,291 $3,291
$4,763 $4,763
-30.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,041 $2,041
$2,815 $2,815
-27.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,932 $2,932
$3,588 $3,588
-18.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,116 $2,116
$2,490 $2,490
-15.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Summerville, SC
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,901 $4,901
$5,275 $5,275
-7.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.3
6.6
-4.55%

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

Last update for Summerville, SC: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Similar cities

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