City comparison
New York vs Chicago Cost of Living
Compare overall indexes, housing costs, and budget targets between New York (166.9) and Chicago (113.6).
New York Index
166.9
Chicago Index
113.6
New York Rent
$4,850
Chicago Rent
$2,375
New York Home price
$787,000
Chicago Home price
$377,000
Salary equivalent calculator
Enter your current salary in New York to estimate the income needed for a similar lifestyle in Chicago.
Equivalent salary in Chicago
$97,333
Based on the relative overall cost of living between New York and Chicago.
Category-by-category differences
Use this table to see which categories make one city more or less expensive than the other.
| Category | New York | Chicago | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | 245 | 128 | -117.0 (-47.8%) |
| Groceries | 138 | 106 | -32.0 (-23.2%) |
| Transportation | 121 | 112 | -9.0 (-7.4%) |
| Healthcare | 117 | 104 | -13.0 (-11.1%) |
| Utilities | 112 | 101 | -11.0 (-9.8%) |
| Miscellaneous | 134 | 105 | -29.0 (-21.6%) |
Budget comparison
Single
$8,110 / $5,130
New York / Chicago
Couple
$13,620 / $8,520
New York / Chicago
Family
$19,870 / $12,000
New York / Chicago
Frequently Asked Questions
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View New York city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for New York.
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.