Cost of Living in Chicago, Illinois (2026)
COL Index
107
100 = US avg
1BR Rent
$1,900
per month
Median HHI
$67K
per year
State Tax
4.9%
income tax
Full cost breakdown
| Category | Chicago |
|---|---|
| 🏠 HousingQ1 2026 | |
| Studio rent/mo | $1,500 |
| 1BR rent/mo | $1,900 |
| 2BR rent/mo | $2,600 |
| Median home price | $360K |
| 🛒 Food & GroceriesQ1 2026 | |
| Groceries index (100 = US avg) | 102 |
| Budget meal (1 person) | $15 |
| Mid-range dinner (2 people) | $60 |
| 🚌 TransportationQ1 2026 | |
| Monthly transit pass/mo | $105 |
| Gas price/gal | $3.40 |
| Car insurance/mo | $165 |
| ⚡ UtilitiesQ1 2026 | |
| Utilities bundle (elec + gas + water)/mo | $165 |
| Internet/mo | $65 |
| 💰 Income & TaxesQ1 2026 | |
| Median household income/yr | $67K |
| State income tax rate | 4.9% |
| Sales tax (combined) | 10.3% |
| 📊 OverviewQ1 2026 | |
| Overall COL index (100 = US avg) | 107 |
| Walk score / 100 | 78 |
Is Chicago affordable on your salary?
How rent burden (1BR) changes across income levels. Under 30% is comfortable; above 40% is tight.
$40K
~$2,565/mo take-home
74% rent burden · Difficult
$50K
~$2,956/mo take-home
64% rent burden · Difficult
$60K
~$3,548/mo take-home
54% rent burden · Difficult
$75K
~$4,434/mo take-home
43% rent burden · Tight
$80K
~$4,730/mo take-home
40% rent burden · Tight
$100K
~$5,913/mo take-home
32% rent burden · Manageable
$120K
~$6,665/mo take-home
29% rent burden · Manageable
$150K
~$8,331/mo take-home
23% rent burden · Comfortable
Too expensive? Find cheaper alternatives.
See cities with a lower cost of living than Chicago.
Compare Chicago with other cities
Chicago vs New YorkCompare →Chicago vs Los AngelesCompare →Chicago vs HoustonCompare →Chicago vs PhoenixCompare →
Data: Zillow Observed Rent Index, BLS, Numbeo, Tax Foundation, US Census ACS · Q1 2026 · For general guidance only