Living Cost Compare
Charleston

South Carolina

$1,620/mo est.

vs
Naperville

Illinois

$1,830/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,620 in Charleston, SC versus $1,830 in Naperville, IL. Overall, Charleston, SC is roughly 11% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Naperville, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $90,038 in Charleston, SC and $150,937 in Naperville, IL — about 40% higher in Naperville, IL. South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax; Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Charleston, SC
Naperville, IL

Rent

Studio
$1,579
$1,713
+8% in Naperville, IL
1 Bedroom
$1,430
$1,594
+11% in Naperville, IL
2 Bedroom
$1,684
$1,889
+12% in Naperville, IL
3 Bedroom
$2,076
$2,446
+18% in Naperville, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$469,100
$509,900
+9% in Naperville, IL

Income

Median Household Income
$90,038
$150,937
+68% in Naperville, IL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,150
$54,720
+11% in Naperville, IL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.1 yr
40.1 yr
+4.0 yr in Naperville, IL
Homeownership
55.6%
74.3%
+18.7 pp in Naperville, IL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
57.7%
71.7%
+14.0 pp in Naperville, IL
Avg Commute
23.8 min
31.4 min
+7.6 min in Naperville, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
358.8
85.7
+76% in Charleston, SC
Property Crime
2,035.1
892.2
+56% in Charleston, SC

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
66.7°F
49.9°F
+16.8°F in Charleston, SC
Annual Precipitation
44.4 in
36.9 in
+7.5 in in Charleston, SC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in Naperville, IL

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.2
23.9
+47% in Naperville, IL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.35
$15.39
+44% in Charleston, SC

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Naperville, IL
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Charleston, SC
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Naperville, IL
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Naperville, IL
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Naperville, IL
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

Average prices — South vs Midwest (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SC / IL)
6%
6.25%
+0.3 pp in IL
Income Tax (top rate)
6.00%
4.95%
+1.0 pp in SC

Charleston vs Naperville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Charleston or Naperville?
Charleston, SC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,620 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Naperville, IL's $1,830, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Charleston than in Naperville?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Charleston versus $64,000 in Naperville.
Which has lower taxes, Charleston or Naperville?
Charleston is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax); Naperville under Illinois's (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).