Cost of Living: Chicago vs Denver (2026)

Chicago vs Denver cost of living compared: rent, home prices, and what your salary is really worth. Denver is about 2% more expensive than Chicago overall — $100,000 in Chicago is worth about $102,111 in Denver.

Denver is about 2% more expensive than Chicago overall — $100,000 in Chicago is worth about $102,111 in Denver.

Chicago vs Denver: the numbers

MetricChicagoDenverDifference
Cost-of-living index (US=100)104106+2%
Median rent$1,380$1,770+28%
Median home value$315,200$586,700+86%
Median household income$75,134$91,681+22%

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 Chicago has the same buying power as about $102,111 in Denver. Going the other way, $100,000 in Denver is like $97,933 in Chicago.

Use the calculator below to compare any salary between Chicago and Denver.

Compare any salary: Chicago vs Denver

What you earn (or want to compare)

Frequently Asked Questions

Denver is more expensive. Its cost-of-living index is 106 vs 104 — a 2% difference. Your money goes further in Chicago.

About $102,111 — that's what you'd need in Denver to maintain the same purchasing power as $100,000 in Chicago.