Chicago vs New York City
Salary equivalence calculator
Price-level ratio 1.351. Adjust to recalculate.
| Metric | Chicago | New York City | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price level index (NYC=100) | 74.0 | 100.0 | +35.1% |
| Rent index (NYC=100) | 58.0 | 100.0 | +72.4% |
| Equivalent of $120,000 | $120,000 | $162,162 | costlier |
- New York City is about 35% more expensive than Chicago, so you need a higher nominal salary to break even.
How far does your salary go in New York City?
Moving from Chicago to New York City changes your cost of living in ways a currency conversion can't capture. What matters is purchasing power: how much the same basket of housing, food, transport and services costs in each place. On our index, where New York City = 100, Chicago sits at 74.0 and New York City at 100.0.
That makes New York City roughly 35% more expensive. A salary of $120,000 in Chicago translates to about $162,162 in New York City. Above that and you gain in real terms; below it and you take an effective pay cut.
Housing drives the gap
Rent is the largest and most variable line in most budgets. New York City's rent index is 100.0 versus Chicago's 58.0.
Common mistakes
- Converting currency instead of purchasing power.
- Ignoring taxes, which vary by jurisdiction.
- Forgetting one-off relocation costs.
Bottom line
New York City is about 35% more expensive than Chicago, so you need a higher nominal salary to break even. Use the calculator to plug in your real salary and compare against any concrete offer.
Rent equivalence: Chicago vs New York City
Based on the rent-index ratio of 1.724 (Chicago 58.0 vs New York City 100.0, NYC = 100).
Housing is usually the biggest single difference between two cities, and it moves independently of the overall price level. Renting the equivalent home in New York City costs about 72% more than in Chicago. Enter your actual rent above to see what a like-for-like place would cost after you move — a more honest gauge of affordability than a raw salary conversion, since renters and owners feel very different impacts.
Frequently asked questions
What salary do I need in New York City to match Chicago?
To keep the same standard of living as $120,000 in Chicago, you would need roughly $162,162 in New York City, a price-level ratio of 1.35.
Is New York City more expensive than Chicago?
Yes, by about 35% on the overall price level.
How much is rent in New York City compared to Chicago?
Rent in New York City is about 72% higher than in Chicago (rent indices 58.0 vs 100.0, NYC = 100). Use the rent calculator on this page for your exact figure.
How is the equivalent salary calculated?
We multiply your salary by the ratio of the two cities' composite price-level indices (housing, food, transport, services), benchmarked so New York City = 100.
Methodology
We build a composite price-level index for each city from official regional price parities and international purchasing-power parities across housing, food, transport and services, normalized so New York City = 100. The equivalent salary is your salary multiplied by the ratio of the destination index to the origin index. It estimates the income needed to hold real purchasing power constant and does not model taxes.