Illinois
High tax burden · COL index 92
Wins 8 categories
South Carolina
Moderate tax burden · COL index 93
Wins 4 categories
South Carolina's top income tax rate is 6.2% vs Illinois's 4.95%. Property taxes are meaningfully different: Illinois averages 1.73% annually vs South Carolina's 0.43%. Politically, South Carolina voted Republican in 2024 (R+13.0) while Illinois went Democratic (D+14.0).
Taxes
Housing & Cost of Living
Crime & Safety
Healthcare
Education
Childcare
Utilities & Daily Costs
Social Policy
Category wins
8
Illinois
4
South Carolina
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Is it cheaper to live in Illinois or South Carolina?
Is it more expensive to live in Chicago or Columbia? Overall cost of living in Columbia, SC is 23.7% lower than in Chicago, IL. The average listing price for a home in Columbia, SC is $345,221, which is 44.4% lower than Chicago, IL. The average cost of groceries in Columbia, SC is 4.8% lower than Chicago, IL.
What are the drawbacks of living in South Carolina?
What is the best state to move to from Illinois?
Is SC more Republican or Democrat?
Presently, South Carolina's government is formed as a representative democracy. South Carolina is a largely conservative, Republican state.