Living Cost Compare
Columbia

South Carolina

$1,220/mo est.

vs
Naperville

Illinois

$1,800/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,220 in Columbia, SC versus $1,800 in Naperville, IL. Overall, Columbia, SC is roughly 32% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Naperville, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $55,653 in Columbia, SC and $150,937 in Naperville, IL — about 63% 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.

Columbia, SC
Naperville, IL

Rent

Studio
$802
$1,713
+114% in Naperville, IL
1 Bedroom
$1,026
$1,594
+55% in Naperville, IL
2 Bedroom
$1,164
$1,889
+62% in Naperville, IL
3 Bedroom
$1,338
$2,446
+83% in Naperville, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$243,500
$509,900
+109% in Naperville, IL

Income

Median Household Income
$55,653
$150,937
+171% in Naperville, IL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,430
$54,720
+18% in Naperville, IL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
28.7 yr
40.1 yr
+11.4 yr in Naperville, IL
Homeownership
47.3%
74.3%
+27.0 pp in Naperville, IL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
46.1%
71.7%
+25.6 pp in Naperville, IL
Avg Commute
17.4 min
31.4 min
+14.0 min in Naperville, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
769.9
85.7
+89% in Columbia, SC
Property Crime
3,265.1
892.2
+73% in Columbia, SC

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
64.9°F
49.9°F
+15.0°F in Columbia, SC
Annual Precipitation
45.4 in
36.9 in
+8.5 in in Columbia, SC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.85/gal
+2% in Columbia, SC

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.6
19.9
+28% in Naperville, IL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.07
$19.71
+32% in Columbia, 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 Columbia, 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

Columbia vs Naperville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Columbia or Naperville?
Columbia, SC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,220 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 32% below Naperville, IL's $1,800, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Columbia than in Naperville?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Columbia versus $64,000 in Naperville.
Which has lower taxes, Columbia or Naperville?
Columbia 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).