Illinois
High tax burden · COL index 92
Wins 9 categories
South Carolina
Moderate tax burden · COL index 93
Wins 6 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
9
Illinois
6
South Carolina
Run the full slider tool to score these states against your specific income, home value, retirement, and lifestyle priorities.
Score For My Profile →People Also Ask
Is it cheaper to live in Illinois or South Carolina?
Overall cost of living in Columbia, SC is 23.8% lower than in Chicago, IL. The average listing price for a home in Columbia, SC is $348,909, which is 44.3% lower than Chicago, IL. The average cost of groceries in Columbia, SC is 5.3% lower than Chicago, IL.
What are the drawbacks of living in South Carolina?
Why are people moving out of SC?
Is $50,000 a good salary in SC?