Chicago, IL → Charleston, SC
Moving to Charleston costs you $100 a month
−$1,200 a year for the same registered nurse, the same household size, and the same number of bedrooms.
| Per month | Chicago | Charleston | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $8,208 | $7,747 | −$461 |
| Income and payroll tax | $2,130 | $1,947 | −$183 |
| Take-home pay | $6,079 | $5,800 | −$278 |
| Rent | $1,828 | $1,593 | −$235 |
| Getting around | $392 | $535 | +$143 |
| Groceries | $408 | $384 | −$24 |
| Healthcare | $459 | $432 | −$27 |
| Utilities | $255 | $240 | −$15 |
| Everything else | $357 | $336 | −$21 |
| Left over | $2,380 | $2,280 | −$100 |
To break even in Charleston, you'd need to earn
$95,000
Household gross, versus $98,500 today. That's the salary that leaves you exactly as much at the end of the month as Chicago does now.
The tax difference alone
+$557
A year, in state and local income tax. Effective rates: 25.9% in Chicago, 25.1% in Charleston.
More about Charleston
Chicago, IL in full
World-class city amenities at Midwest home prices, funded by 2.1% property tax.
Charleston, SC in full
State income tax topping out at 6.2%, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,896 and 222 sunny days; commutes average 27 minutes.
The reverse move
Same two cities, but starting from Charleston on Charleston wages.
Charleston → Chicago →Rent is Zillow's asking rent for each metro; taxes and living costs are modelled. An estimate, not a quote or tax advice. How this is calculated.