Paycheck & COL Hub

Cost of Living: New York vs Chicago

Compare cost of living between New York and Chicago. See how much you’d need to earn in one city to match the other.

Relative cost

Chicago is about 22% less expensive than New York.

Based on our cost-of-living indices (housing, groceries, transport, and general expenses).

Equivalent salary

To have a similar standard of living in Chicago as someone earning $60,000 in New York, you’d need approximately 46,800 USD/year in Chicago.

Use our Cost of Living Calculator →

How we compare New York and Chicago

We use relative cost-of-living indices for housing, groceries, transport, and general expenses. The equivalent salary is an estimate; your own spending and lifestyle will affect the real number.