City comparison
Denver vs Chicago Cost of Living
Compare overall indexes, housing costs, and budget targets between Denver (123.4) and Chicago (113.6).
Denver Index
123.4
Chicago Index
113.6
Denver Rent
$2,900
Chicago Rent
$2,375
Denver Home price
$549,000
Chicago Home price
$377,000
Salary equivalent calculator
Enter your current salary in Denver to estimate the income needed for a similar lifestyle in Chicago.
Equivalent salary in Chicago
$91,138
Based on the relative overall cost of living between Denver and Chicago.
Category-by-category differences
Use this table to see which categories make one city more or less expensive than the other.
| Category | Denver | Chicago | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | 159 | 128 | -31.0 (-19.5%) |
| Groceries | 108 | 106 | -2.0 (-1.9%) |
| Transportation | 105 | 112 | +7.0 (+6.7%) |
| Healthcare | 102 | 104 | +2.0 (+2.0%) |
| Utilities | 97 | 101 | +4.0 (+4.1%) |
| Miscellaneous | 108 | 105 | -3.0 (-2.8%) |
Budget comparison
Single
$5,610 / $5,130
Denver / Chicago
Couple
$9,310 / $8,520
Denver / Chicago
Family
$13,130 / $12,000
Denver / Chicago
Frequently Asked Questions
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View Denver city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Denver.
View Chicago city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Chicago.
Last updated: Q1 2026
Data as of Q1 2026. Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau, HUD Fair Market Rents.
Cost of living indexes use the national average as baseline (100). Data is updated periodically.