Chicago vs New York

Salary & cost of living comparison

Metric
Chicago
New York
Median Salary
$65,000
$75,000
Rent (1BR)
$2,000
$3,200
Rent (2BR)
$2,800
$4,500
CoL Index
78
100
Groceries
82
100
Transport
$110
$127
Tax Rate
27.5%
28.5%
Tech Hub
7/10
9/10

Cost of Living Ratio

1.28

New York is more expensive

Rent Ratio

1.60

Salary Equivalent Ratio

1.28

💰 Salary Equivalents

Enter your salary to see the equivalent:

$
in Chicago = in New York

Common salary equivalents:

$50k in Chicago = $64k in New York
$80k in Chicago = $102k in New York
$100k in Chicago = $128k in New York
$120k in Chicago = $154k in New York
$150k in Chicago = $192k in New York
$200k in Chicago = $256k in New York

📈 Monthly Budget Breakdown

Chicago

$4,189/mo net

48%
9%
33%
Rent $2,000 Groceries $369 Transport $110 Utilities $117 Leisure $195 Savings $1,398

New York

$4,780/mo net

67%
9%
13%
Rent $3,200 Groceries $450 Transport $127 Utilities $150 Leisure $250 Savings $603

Frequently Asked Questions

No, New York is approximately 28% more expensive than Chicago based on overall cost of living index.
To maintain the same standard of living as a $100,000 salary in Chicago, you would need approximately $128,000 in New York.
Chicago has a lower effective tax rate. Chicago has an effective rate of 27.5% while New York has 28.5%.
New York ranks higher for tech workers with a tech hub score of 9/10 compared to 7/10.

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