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

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Union, SC is 32.8% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 22% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Union, SC is 28.8% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 26.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Union, SC
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.05 $9.05
$20.82 $20.82
-56.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$99.9 $99.9
$100 $100
-0.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.57 $8.57
$11.97 $11.97
-28.40%
Cappuccino
$5.75 $5.75
$5.56 $5.56
3.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22 $2.22
$3.11 $3.11
-28.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.9 $1.9
$2.42 $2.42
-21.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.68 $2.68
$6.86 $6.86
-60.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.43 $3.43
$8.45 $8.45
-59.41%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Union, SC
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.03 $1.03
$1.04 $1.04
-0.96%
White Bread (500g)
$2.43 $2.43
$4.15 $4.15
-41.45%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.45 $2.45
$5.52 $5.52
-55.62%
Eggs
$2.95 $2.95
$4.65 $4.65
-36.56%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.76 $8.76
$14.33 $14.33
-38.87%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.6 $8.6
$14.88 $14.88
-42.20%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.83 $9.83
$19.34 $19.34
-49.17%
Apples (1kg)
$2.77 $2.77
$5.17 $5.17
-46.42%
Banana (1kg)
$1.36 $1.36
$1.71 $1.71
-20.47%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.33 $3.33
$4.41 $4.41
-24.49%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.29 $4.29
$4.51 $4.51
-4.88%
Potato (1kg)
$2.61 $2.61
$2.53 $2.53
3.16%
Onion (1kg)
$2.05 $2.05
$2.74 $2.74
-25.18%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.76 $1.76
$2.43 $2.43
-27.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 $1.27
$2.7 $2.7
-52.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.59 $7.59
$15.19 $15.19
-50.03%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.54 $8.54
$16.42 $16.42
-47.99%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 $1.74
$2.35 $2.35
-25.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.87 $4.87
$3.7 $3.7
31.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Union, SC
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.98 $1.98
$2.53 $2.53
-21.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.42 $4.42
$3.34 $3.34
32.34%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.3 $2.3
$1.42 $1.42
61.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$42.24 $42.24
$25.42 $25.42
66.17%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 $0.81
$1.08 $1.08
-25.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.9K $33.9K
$32.4K $32.4K
4.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.5K $24.5K
$26.2K $26.2K
-6.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Union, SC
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$175 $175
$188 $188
-6.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$67.4 $67.4
$63.7 $63.7
5.75%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.34 $45.34
$65.2 $65.2
-30.46%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Union, SC
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.18 $43.18
$76.7 $76.7
-43.72%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.09 $13.09
$14.93 $14.93
-12.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Union, SC
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,535 $2,535
$2,063 $2,063
22.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$26K $26K
$39.2K $39.2K
-33.56%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Union, SC
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.39 $47.39
$64.3 $64.3
-26.31%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.27 $21.27
$52.4 $52.4
-59.40%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.2 $86.2
$95.2 $95.2
-9.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101 $101
$145 $145
-30.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Union, SC
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,607 $1,607
$2,378 $2,378
-32.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,358 $1,358
$1,584 $1,584
-14.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,664 $2,664
$4,763 $4,763
-44.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,180 $2,180
$2,815 $2,815
-22.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,821 $2,821
$3,588 $3,588
-21.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,499 $2,499
$2,490 $2,490
0.34%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Union, SC
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,481 $2,481
$5,275 $5,275
-52.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4
6.6
-39.39%

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

Last update for Union, SC: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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