Chicago is about 6% more expensive than Austin overall - $100,000 in Austin is worth about $105,638 in Chicago.
Housing costs separate Austin and Chicago more than any other category. The median home in Chicago runs $315,200 versus $512,700 in Austin, a 39% gap that matters whether you’re buying now or saving for a future purchase.
Renters see the same pattern. The typical apartment in Chicago costs $1,380/month versus $1,655/month in Austin. But income matters too: the median household in Austin earns $91,461 and in Chicago earns $75,134. That means rent swallows about 21.7% of median income in Austin and 22.0% in Chicago.
Scale is another factor. Chicago is a much larger metro (2,707,648 people) compared to Austin (967,862), which affects job market depth, commute times, and amenities.
Monthly cost breakdown: Austin vs Chicago
These estimates use BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey shares scaled by each city’s cost-of-living index. Housing uses the city’s actual median rent; ownership uses a 6.7%, 30-year mortgage with 10% down on the median home.
| Category | Austin (rent) | Chicago (rent) | Austin (own) | Chicago (own) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | $1,655 | $1,380 | $2,978 | $1,831 |
| Transportation | $1,226 | $1,064 | $1,226 | $1,064 |
| Food | $964 | $837 | $964 | $837 |
| Healthcare | $605 | $525 | $605 | $525 |
| Other | $2,153 | $1,868 | $2,153 | $1,868 |
| Total | $6,603 | $5,674 | $7,926 | $6,124 |
Scenario: who actually wins?
The Renter
If you rent a median apartment and keep other spending typical, your monthly nut in Chicago is roughly $19,860 per year in rent alone - $3,300 more than in Austin. Add utilities, food, and transport and the annual gap widens. The crossover point: you need to earn about $105,638 in Chicago to match $100,000 in Austin.
The First-Time Buyer
A 10% down payment on the median home costs $51,270 in Chicago versus $31,520 in Austin. On a 30-year fixed mortgage at 6.7%, the monthly P&I difference is roughly $1,147. Over five years, that’s $68,819 in extra (or saved) housing costs.
The Remote Worker
If your salary is locked to a national scale regardless of location, Austin is the obvious win. A $120,000 remote salary in Austin has the purchasing power of about $126,766 in Chicago. The catch: some employers use location-based pay bands, which can erase part of that advantage.
The Family of Four
With two median incomes, a household in Austin earns roughly $137,192 and in Chicago earns $112,701. After housing, the next biggest budget line is usually childcare and education - costs that vary less by city than housing does. The family math usually comes down to: can you afford the home you want on local salaries? In Chicago, that answer is harder.
Austin vs Chicago: the numbers
| Metric | Austin | Chicago | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost-of-living index (US=100) | 98 | 104 | +6% |
| Median rent | $1,655 | $1,380 | -17% |
| Median home value | $512,700 | $315,200 | -39% |
| Median household income | $91,461 | $75,134 | -18% |
Cost of living = BEA Regional Price Parities (US average = 100). Rent, home value, and income from the U.S. Census ACS. See our methodology.
What your salary is worth
A $100,000 salary in Austin has the same buying power as about $105,638 in Chicago. Going the other way, $100,000 in Chicago is like $94,663 in Austin.
Use the calculator below to compare any salary between Austin and Chicago.
Job market snapshot: Austin vs Chicago
Highest-paying roles with available data - median salary, not average, to avoid skew from senior outliers.
| Role | Austin | Chicago |
|---|---|---|
| Marketing Manager | $154,010 | $155,750 |
| Software Developer | $131,320 | $129,180 |
| Data Scientist | $111,760 | $108,580 |
| Physical Therapist | $102,720 | $103,270 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $102,370 | - |
| Police Officer | - | $102,520 |
Moving from Austin to Chicago: a practical checklist
Before you pack, run the numbers on these five items:
- Total compensation, not just base salary. Factor in bonuses, stock, 401(k) match, and remote-work stipends.
- Housing math for your situation. Rent vs. buy changes the winner. Use our calculator above to model both.
- State income tax. Austin and Chicago are in different states, so your take-home pay will shift even if your gross salary stays flat. See our paycheck calculator for the exact difference.
- Commute and transportation. Gas, insurance, and tolls vary by metro. Check whether your new commute is longer or shorter.
- Healthcare network coverage. If you have employer-sponsored insurance, confirm your preferred doctors and hospitals are in-network in Chicago.
Run these through our cost-of-living calculator with your actual salary to get a personalized answer.