New York City Wins
0
of 6 categories
Tied
0
categories
Chicago Wins
6
of 6 categories
Category Breakdown
Compare costs across 6 key categories
Overall Cost
100
New York City
vs
68
Chicago
Chicago is 32 pts cheaper
Rent
100
New York City
vs
55
Chicago
Chicago is 45 pts cheaper
Groceries
100
New York City
vs
85
Chicago
Chicago is 15 pts cheaper
Restaurants
100
New York City
vs
80
Chicago
Chicago is 20 pts cheaper
Transport
100
New York City
vs
90
Chicago
Chicago is 10 pts cheaper
Utilities
100
New York City
vs
95
Chicago
Chicago is 5 pts cheaper
Salary Equivalence
How much you'd need in Chicago to match a New York City salary
| Salary in New York City | Equivalent in Chicago | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $34,000 | $16,000 less |
| $75,000 | $51,000 | $24,000 less |
| $100,000 | $68,000 | $32,000 less |
| $125,000 | $85,000 | $40,000 less |
| $150,000 | $102,000 | $48,000 less |
| $200,000 | $136,000 | $64,000 less |
New York City vs Chicago: Summary
The overall cost of living differs by 32%. Chicago is the more affordable option.
Rent: New York City has a rent index of 100, while Chicago has 55.
Average Salaries: New York City: $5,500/month vs Chicago: $4,200/month (both in USD).
Out of 6 categories, New York City wins 0, while Chicago wins 6.
Compare more cities or calculate your US take-home pay.