Cost of living comparison
Chicago is 37.8% more expensive than South Carolina.
- Restaurants
-
pay 27.0% more in Chicago
- Groceries
-
pay 20.8% more in Chicago
- Transportation
-
pay 16.8% more in Chicago
- Housing
-
pay 11.2% more in Chicago
- Childcare
-
pay 90.2% more in Chicago
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 70.5% more in Chicago
- Clothing
-
pay 28.1% more in Chicago
The cost of childcare, entertainment and sports, clothing, restaurants, groceries, and transportation in Chicago are more expensive than in South Carolina. Notably, childcare is significantly more expensive in Chicago.
If you lived in Chicago instead of South Carolina, you would:
pay 27.0% more for restaurants
|
South Carolina
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$17.57
|
$25.00
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$10.40
|
$11.34
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.41
|
$3.02
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.86
|
$2.44
|
|
pay 20.8% more for groceries
|
South Carolina
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$3.02
|
$4.19
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$4.99
|
$7.87
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.25
|
$3.94
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$2.94
|
$3.75
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$4.81
|
$6.63
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.50
|
$2.44
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.81
|
$0.90
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.11
|
$2.19
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.90
|
$2.27
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.25
|
$1.16
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.37
|
$1.37
|
|
pay 16.8% more for transportation
|
South Carolina
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.08
|
$4.16
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$49.00
|
$75.00
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$30,676.82
|
$31,965.00
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$19.29
|
$14.43
|
|
pay 11.2% more for housing
|
South Carolina
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$63.14
|
$58.52
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,510.93
|
$2,360.96
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,398.21
|
$1,512.92
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$144.70
|
$126.63
|
|
pay 90.2% more for childcare
|
South Carolina
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,335.89
|
$2,475.00
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$21,679.50
|
$42,300.00
|
|
pay 70.5% more for entertainment and sports
|
South Carolina
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$4.79
|
$7.50
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.08
|
$5.30
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$7.37
|
$17.00
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$29.76
|
$72.00
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$12.57
|
$15.00
|
|
pay 28.1% more for clothing
|
South Carolina
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$45.07
|
$64.98
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$39.58
|
$51.67
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$89.11
|
$97.00
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$113.24
|
$146.00
|
|
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