Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charleston, SC
VS
Chicago, IL
🏆 Charleston leads 17 of 23 categories
Charleston
South Carolina
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,891 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
94 ✓ Safer
Population
149,960
Chicago
Illinois
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,673
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High
Population
2,721,914 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Charleston, SC
Pros
34% less violent crime than Chicago
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.5 pts lower (3.7%)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Households earn $12,218 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 32°F
More college-educated — 57.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $438,900
Higher rents — median is $1,517/mo
Chicago, IL
Pros
Homes cost $134k less ($304,500 vs $438,900)
Rent averages $203/mo less ($1,314 vs $1,517)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 88°F
Cons
Violent crime (539.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Charleston by $12,218/yr
Property crime (3472.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 3.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Charleston
Median Income
$12,218
$83,891 vs $71,673/yr
Charleston
Violent Crime
34% lower
357.6 vs 539.8 per 100k
Charleston
Unemployment
4.5 pp lower
3.7% vs 8.2% unemployment
Charleston
Summer Heat
6.5°F warmer
July avg high 87.5°F vs 81.0°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 102.4 on the COL index
Chicago
Median Home Value
$134k less
$304,500 vs $438,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charleston, SC | Chicago, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $438,900⚠ High | $304,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,517⚠ High | $1,314 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,891 ✓ Higher | $71,673 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 8.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter | 34.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.6% | 15.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 95 ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 94 ✓ Safer | 142⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 165⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | A (118) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.4% ✓ Higher | 42.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 86.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charleston 01 | Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer | 31.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.5°F ✓ Warmer | 81.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.2" | 34.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" ✓ Less | 38.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 149,960 | 2,721,914 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 35.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.6% ✓ Higher | 45.6% |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 20.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.3% ✓ More | 13.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charleston's cost of living index is 102.4 vs Chicago's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Charleston is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Charleston leads 17 of 23 categories. Charleston wins 17 and Chicago wins 6. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Charleston to Chicago or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($438,900 vs $304,500 median home), income ($83,891 vs $71,673), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charleston, SC and Chicago, IL are about 752 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.