New York vs Chicago
Salary & cost of living comparison
Metric
New York
Chicago
Median Salary
$75,000
↑
$65,000
↓
Rent (1BR)
$3,200
↑
$2,000
↓
Rent (2BR)
$4,500
↑
$2,800
↓
CoL Index
100
↑
78
↓
Groceries
100
↑
82
↓
Transport
$127
↑
$110
↓
Tax Rate
28.5%
↑
27.5%
↓
Tech Hub
9/10
↑
7/10
↓
Cost of Living Ratio
0.78
Chicago is cheaper
Rent Ratio
0.63
Salary Equivalent Ratio
0.78
💰 Salary Equivalents
Enter your salary to see the equivalent:
$
in New York
=
—
in Chicago
Common salary equivalents:
$50k in New York
=
$39k in Chicago
$80k in New York
=
$62k in Chicago
$100k in New York
=
$78k in Chicago
$120k in New York
=
$94k in Chicago
$150k in New York
=
$117k in Chicago
$200k in New York
=
$156k in Chicago
📈 Monthly Budget Breakdown
New York
$4,780/mo net
Rent $3,200
Groceries $450
Transport $127
Utilities $150
Leisure $250
Savings $603
Chicago
$4,189/mo net
Rent $2,000
Groceries $369
Transport $110
Utilities $117
Leisure $195
Savings $1,398
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, Chicago is approximately 22% cheaper than New York based on overall cost of living index.
To maintain the same standard of living as a $100,000 salary in New York, you would need approximately $78,000 in Chicago.
Chicago has a lower effective tax rate. New York has an effective rate of 28.5% while Chicago has 27.5%.
New York ranks higher for tech workers with a tech hub score of 9/10 compared to 7/10.