Median rent is 15% lower in Chicago ($1,380/mo vs $1,632/mo). Buying is cheaper in Chicago, where the median home runs $315,200 versus $469,100. Households earn more in Charleston ($90,038 vs $75,134 a year).
City A
Charleston, SC
City B
Chicago, IL
How much would you need to earn in Chicago, IL to maintain your standard of living from Charleston, SC?
A cost-of-living index isn't available for one of these cities yet, so we can't compute an equivalent salary.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each city's metro area. A rough estimate of overall purchasing power, not tax or take-home pay.
Metric
Charleston
South Carolina
Chicago
Illinois
👥Population
💰Median Household Income
Annual
🏠Median Gross Rent
Per month
🏡Median Home Value
📊Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
🔑1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🔑2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🔑3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🌬️Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
🏛️Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
🧾State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
🎂Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Median rent is modestly lower in Chicago at $1,380/mo compared to $1,632/mo in Charleston (15% gap). Home buyers face a steeper market in Charleston: the median home is $469,100 versus $315,200 in Chicago — 33% more expensive.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
South Carolina's top income tax rate is 6.40% versus 4.95% in Illinois, so Chicago is more tax-friendly for high earners. Sales tax is 6.00% in South Carolina and 6.25% in Illinois; Charleston has the lower rate (local add-ons may apply in both).
Charleston
Income tax: 6.40%
Sales tax: 6.00%
Chicago
Income tax: 4.95%
Sales tax: 6.25%
Chicago has cleaner air on average: 21.0 AQI (Good) compared to 28.0 AQI (Good) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Pick Charleston if you prioritize higher median household income ($90,038/yr).
Pick Chicago if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,380/mo median).
Pick Chicago if you prioritize cleaner air quality (avg AQI 21.0).
Pick Chicago if you prioritize lower state income tax (4.95%).
Is Charleston cheaper than Chicago?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Charleston vs Chicago?
Median rent is $1,632/mo in Charleston, SC and $1,380/mo in Chicago, IL. Chicago, IL has the lower rent by about 15%.
Which has higher salaries — Charleston or Chicago?
Median household income is $90,038 in Charleston, SC and $75,134 in Chicago, IL. Charleston, SC has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Which city has better air quality?
Chicago, IL has better air quality on average: 21.0 AQI versus 28.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
Which has lower taxes — Charleston or Chicago?
South Carolina's top income tax rate is 6.40% and Illinois's is 4.95%. Chicago, IL has the lower rate.
What salary do I need in Chicago to match my Charleston income?
RPP data needed for salary equivalence calculation is not yet available.
Data last updated: December 1, 2024 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology