Salary Guide: Chicago
United States · Salary & Cost of Living Guide 2026
$65,000
Median Salary
78
CoL Index
$2,000
Avg Rent 1BR
7/10
Tech Hub Score
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Compare Chicago vs Other Cities
See how Chicago stacks up against other global tech hubs in salaries, cost of living, and quality of life.
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Chicago vs London
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Chicago vs San Francisco
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Chicago vs Berlin
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Chicago vs Singapore
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Chicago vs Toronto
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Chicago vs Sydney
Cost of Living in Chicago
Chicago at a Glance
Median Salary
$65,000/year
Before taxes
Average Rent (1BR)
$2,000/month
City center
Average Rent (2BR)
$2,800/month
City center
Monthly Transport
$110
Public transit pass
Groceries Index
82
NYC = 100
Purchasing Power
92
NYC = 100, higher is better
Tech Hub Score
7/10
Job market strength
Effective Tax Rate
27.5%
At median income
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Last updated: 2026-02-28 | Data sources: Numbeo, OECD, Glassdoor, and local government statistics.