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Cost of Living · Illinois

Chicago Cost of Living

Chicago, Illinois costs approximately 5.0% above the US national average. Compare with 99 other major US cities.

1.05×
cost-of-living index (1.00 = US national average)
Chicago ranks 1 of 1 cities in Illinois by cost of living.
Cities MORE expensive than Chicago (21)
San Francisco, CA
+38.1% more expensive
Oakland, CA
+28.6% more expensive
New York City, NY
+25.7% more expensive
Honolulu, HI
+23.8% more expensive
Irvine, CA
+23.8% more expensive
Los Angeles, CA
+16.2% more expensive
Boston, MA
+16.2% more expensive
San Diego, CA
+15.2% more expensive
Yonkers, NY
+14.3% more expensive
Anchorage, AK
+14.3% more expensive
Seattle, WA
+12.4% more expensive
Long Beach, CA
+12.4% more expensive
Anaheim, CA
+12.4% more expensive
Scottsdale, AZ
+12.4% more expensive
Chula Vista, CA
+9.5% more expensive
Miami, FL
+6.7% more expensive
Portland, OR
+4.8% more expensive
Newark, NJ
+4.8% more expensive
Sacramento, CA
+4.8% more expensive
Riverside, CA
+4.8% more expensive
Denver, CO
+2.9% more expensive
Cities CHEAPER than Chicago (72)
Las Vegas, NV
−1.0% cheaper
Minneapolis, MN
−1.0% cheaper
Plano, TX
−1.0% cheaper
Chandler, AZ
−1.0% cheaper
Phoenix, AZ
−2.9% cheaper
Philadelphia, PA
−2.9% cheaper
Atlanta, GA
−2.9% cheaper
Tampa, FL
−2.9% cheaper
Henderson, NV
−2.9% cheaper
Reno, NV
−2.9% cheaper
Gilbert, AZ
−2.9% cheaper
Charleston, SC
−2.9% cheaper
Salt Lake City, UT
−2.9% cheaper
Orlando, FL
−3.8% cheaper
Wilmington, DE
−4.8% cheaper
Raleigh, NC
−4.8% cheaper
Virginia Beach, VA
−4.8% cheaper
St. Paul, MN
−4.8% cheaper
Chesapeake, VA
−4.8% cheaper
North Las Vegas, NV
−4.8% cheaper
Boise, ID
−4.8% cheaper
Fresno, CA
−4.8% cheaper
Worcester, MA
−4.8% cheaper
Dallas, TX
−5.7% cheaper
Nashville, TN
−5.7% cheaper
Colorado Springs, CO
−5.7% cheaper
Bakersfield, CA
−5.7% cheaper
St. Petersburg, FL
−5.7% cheaper
Madison, WI
−5.7% cheaper
Norfolk, VA
−6.7% cheaper
Jacksonville, FL
−7.6% cheaper
Charlotte, NC
−7.6% cheaper
Mesa, AZ
−7.6% cheaper
Houston, TX
−8.6% cheaper
Fort Worth, TX
−8.6% cheaper
Tucson, AZ
−8.6% cheaper
Glendale, AZ
−8.6% cheaper
Garland, TX
−8.6% cheaper
Spokane, WA
−8.6% cheaper
Pittsburgh, PA
−9.5% cheaper
Arlington, TX
−9.5% cheaper
Tallahassee, FL
−9.5% cheaper
Milwaukee, WI
−10.5% cheaper
Albuquerque, NM
−10.5% cheaper
New Orleans, LA
−10.5% cheaper
San Antonio, TX
−11.4% cheaper
Grand Rapids, MI
−11.4% cheaper
Columbus, OH
−12.4% cheaper
Detroit, MI
−12.4% cheaper
Cincinnati, OH
−12.4% cheaper
Kansas City, MO
−12.4% cheaper
Lexington, KY
−12.4% cheaper
Corpus Christi, TX
−12.4% cheaper
Buffalo, NY
−12.4% cheaper
Greensboro, NC
−12.4% cheaper
Knoxville, TN
−12.4% cheaper
El Paso, TX
−13.3% cheaper
Cleveland, OH
−13.3% cheaper
St. Louis, MO
−13.3% cheaper
Winston-Salem, NC
−13.3% cheaper
Indianapolis, IN
−14.3% cheaper
Louisville, KY
−14.3% cheaper
Omaha, NE
−14.3% cheaper
Memphis, TN
−15.2% cheaper
Oklahoma City, OK
−15.2% cheaper
Lincoln, NE
−15.2% cheaper
Birmingham, AL
−16.2% cheaper
Toledo, OH
−16.2% cheaper
Lubbock, TX
−16.2% cheaper
Wichita, KS
−18.1% cheaper
Fort Wayne, IN
−18.1% cheaper
Mobile, AL
−18.1% cheaper

What living in Chicago costs

Chicago carries a cost index of 1.05x the national baseline, placing it above 72 of the 99 metros tracked and below 21. Rent runs about $1,850 monthly; the median home is near $330,000.

Price-to-rent sits around 15 — the middle band where buying and renting are close enough that the decision turns on how long you will stay and what else you would do with the down payment.

Working and living here

Chicago is a metro of roughly 9.3M and losing population, running on finance/trading, logistics, manufacturing. Larger employers include United Airlines (headquarters), McDonald's (headquarters), JPMorgan Chase (Midwest hub).

Illinois taxes income at the state level, and Chicago adds no separate city tax. Cost-of-living indexes exclude income tax entirely, so compare after-tax figures rather than index ratios when weighing this metro against one in a no-income-tax state.

Getting around: Chicago is genuinely car-optional. Going car-free is realistic in parts of the metro, which is worth roughly $9,000 a year against a car-dependent city at the same rent.

Climate: Humid continental: January highs near 32°F/lows 19°F, July highs near 84°F/lows 65°F, windy with lake-effect weather swings.

No local income tax (Illinois has a flat 4.95% state tax), but Chicago's combined sales tax rate (10.25%) is among the highest of any major US city.

Related tools

Paycheck calculator — take-home after federal, state and local tax. Salary calculator — pay by job and state. Compare against another metro.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Chicago expensive to live in?▾
Relative to the US average, roughly average — the cost index is 1.05x, above 72 and below 21 of the 99 other metros tracked here. A one-bedroom averages $1,850 a month and the median home $330,000.
What salary do you need to live comfortably in Chicago?▾
A common rule keeps rent under 30% of gross income, which at $1,850 a month implies about $74,000 a year for a one-bedroom. That is a floor rather than a comfortable figure — it leaves nothing for savings or the rest of the budget.