City comparison
Chicago, IL vs Columbia, SC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Chicago, IL are 10.6% higher than in Columbia, SC. Someone earning $100,000 in Columbia, SC would need about $110,600 in Chicago, IL to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,581 a month in Chicago, IL versus $1,164 in Columbia, SC. On $100,000, that's 26% of take-home pay in Chicago, IL and 19% in Columbia, SC.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $4,805 a year in IL and $4,843 in SC.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −10.5% moving from Chicago, IL to Columbia, SC ($118,984 → $106,437), while prices change by −9.6%. Net effect of the transfer: −1.1% in real buying power.
- Chicago, IL: price level 103.6 (pricier)
- Columbia, SC: price level 93.7 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Chicago, IL | Columbia, SC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 103.6 | 93.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $90,412 in Columbia | $110,605 in Chicago |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,581/mo | $1,164/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,375 | $74,337 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,805 (IL) | $4,843 (SC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 26% | 19% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $54,720 | $46,430 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL HUD Metro FMR Area and Columbia, SC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN and Columbia, SC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Chicago | Columbia |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 112.0 | 79.5 |
| Goods | 107.3 | 96.3 |
| Utilities | 83.6 | 88.3 |
| Other services | 100.5 | 98.3 |
| Overall | 103.6 | 93.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Chicago, IL → Columbia, SC
Same pay goes further
Buying power +10.6%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax +$38/yr.
100 Strong offer
Columbia, SC → Chicago, IL
Same pay buys less
Buying power −9.6%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax −$38/yr.
38 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Chicago, IL is in the Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI pay area; Columbia, SC is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Chicago, IL to Columbia, SC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Chicago, IL | Columbia, SC | Real change, Chicago → Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $68,999 | $61,722 | −1.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $83,482 | $74,678 | −1.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $100,059 | $89,508 | −1.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $118,984 | $106,437 | −1.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $140,604 | $125,776 | −1.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Chicago, IL | Columbia, SC | Columbia pay in Chicago dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $78,390 | $60,050 | $66,418 (−15.3%) |
| Software Developers | $134,380 | $123,380 | $136,465 (+1.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $82,360 | $69,210 | $76,550 (−7.1%) |
| Registered Nurses | $100,490 | $81,920 | $90,608 (−9.8%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.