Relocation comparison
Houston, TX → Chicago, IL
Moving from Houston, TX to Chicago, IL? Cost of living in Chicago, IL is about 24% higher. A $100,000 lifestyle in Houston, TX costs about $123,958 in Chicago, IL. Here are the numbers.
Cost of living
+24%
119 vs 96 index
Matches a $100,000 lifestyle
$123,958
Matches a $100,000 lifestyle
Median 2-bed rent
+$500
$2,000/mo
Median home price
+$30,000
$360,000 median
What you'd need to earn to keep your lifestyle
| Salary today (Houston, TX) | Equivalent there (Chicago, IL) |
|---|---|
| $75,000 | $92,969 |
| $100,000 | $123,958 |
| $150,000 | $185,938 |
Illustrative figures for planning, not financial advice. Cost-of-living index uses US average = 100.
Questions people ask about this move
- Is Chicago, IL more expensive than Houston, TX?
- Yes. Cost of living in Chicago, IL is about 24% higher than Houston, TX (index 119 vs 96, US average = 100).
- How much do you need to earn in Chicago, IL to match a $100,000 lifestyle in Houston, TX?
- About $123,958. That's the salary in Chicago, IL that buys roughly what $100,000 buys in Houston, TX.
- What's the difference in housing between Houston, TX and Chicago, IL?
- Median 2-bed rent is $500/mo more, and the median home price is about $30,000 higher in Chicago, IL.
- How does state income tax compare?
- Chicago, IL runs about 4.95% versus 0% in Houston, TX. On $100,000, that's roughly $4,950/yr more in tax.
Run your exact numbers
These are median figures. Your real answer depends on your salary, whether you own or rent, and the relocation package on the table. The full calculator works it out in a minute.
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