Living Cost Compare
Chicago

Illinois

$1,470/mo est.

vs
Greenville

South Carolina

$1,300/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,470 in Chicago, IL versus $1,300 in Greenville, SC. Overall, Greenville, SC is roughly 12% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Chicago, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $75,134 in Chicago, IL and $68,460 in Greenville, SC — about 9% higher in Chicago, IL. Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax; South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax.

Chicago, IL
Greenville, SC

Rent

Studio
$1,186
$1,175
+1% in Chicago, IL
1 Bedroom
$1,258
$1,113
+12% in Chicago, IL
2 Bedroom
$1,406
$1,325
+6% in Chicago, IL
3 Bedroom
$1,554
$1,550
+0% in Chicago, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$315,200
$453,300
+44% in Greenville, SC

Income

Median Household Income
$75,134
$68,460
+9% in Chicago, IL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,720
$46,580
+15% in Chicago, IL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.7 yr
34.8 yr
+0.9 yr in Chicago, IL
Homeownership
45.5%
41.2%
+4.3 pp in Chicago, IL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
43.3%
55.0%
+11.7 pp in Greenville, SC
Avg Commute
33.5 min
19.9 min
+13.6 min in Chicago, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
539.8
649.8
+20% in Greenville, SC
Property Crime
3,489.9
3,479.3
+0% in Chicago, IL

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
52.7°F
60.5°F
+7.8°F in Greenville, SC
Annual Precipitation
38.0 in
50.8 in
+12.8 in in Greenville, SC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.24/gal
$3.94/gal
+7% in Chicago, IL

Area: Chicago vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.50
—

Adult base one-way fare — CTA vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.9
15.6
+22% in Chicago, IL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$19.71
$29.07
+47% in Greenville, SC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Chicago, IL
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.75
+5% in Greenville, SC
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.21
+39% in Chicago, IL
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.45
+5% in Chicago, IL
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$1.90
+9% in Chicago, IL
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

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

Chicago vs Greenville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Chicago or Greenville?
Greenville, SC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below Chicago, IL's $1,470, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Chicago than in Greenville?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $50,000 a year in Chicago versus $45,000 in Greenville.
Which has lower taxes, Chicago or Greenville?
Chicago is taxed under Illinois's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Greenville under South Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% 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).