City comparison
Charleston, SC vs Chicago, IL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Chicago, IL are 2.6% higher than in Charleston, SC. Someone earning $100,000 in Charleston, SC would need about $102,600 in Chicago, IL to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,630 a month in Charleston, SC and $1,581 in Chicago, IL.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $4,843 a year in SC and $4,805 in IL.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +11.8% moving from Charleston, SC to Chicago, IL ($106,437 → $118,984), while prices change by +2.6%. Net effect of the transfer: +8.9% in real buying power.
- Charleston, SC: price level 101.0 (about average)
- Chicago, IL: price level 103.6 (pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Charleston, SC | Chicago, IL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 101.0 | 103.6 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $102,608 in Chicago | $97,458 in Charleston |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,630/mo | $1,581/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,337 | $74,375 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,843 (SC) | $4,805 (IL) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 26% | 26% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,150 | $54,720 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI |
Rent areas: Charleston-North Charleston, SC MSA and Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Charleston-North Charleston, SC and Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Charleston | Chicago |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 119.8 | 112.0 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 107.3 |
| Utilities | 88.2 | 83.6 |
| Other services | 98.3 | 100.5 |
| Overall | 101.0 | 103.6 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Charleston, SC → Chicago, IL
Same pay buys less
Buying power −2.5%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax −$38/yr.
60 Fair offer
Chicago, IL → Charleston, SC
Same pay goes further
Buying power +2.6%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax +$38/yr.
75 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Charleston, SC is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Chicago, IL is in Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI. The last column shows what a transfer from Charleston, SC to Chicago, IL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Charleston, SC | Chicago, IL | Real change, Charleston → Chicago |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $68,999 | +8.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $83,482 | +8.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $100,059 | +8.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $118,984 | +8.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $140,604 | +8.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Charleston, SC | Chicago, IL | Chicago pay in Charleston dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,020 | $78,390 | $76,398 (+25.2%) |
| Software Developers | $132,150 | $134,380 | $130,965 (−0.9%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,350 | $82,360 | $80,267 (+1.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $92,800 | $100,490 | $97,936 (+5.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.