Can you afford Chicago?
Big-city amenities and a real subway at roughly half New York rents — the trade is a genuinely cold winter.
At a glance
Four scenarios, run for you
| Scenario | Take-home/mo | Costs/mo | Left over | Score | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single, $60k, 1-bed centre | $4,012 | $4,234 | -$222 | 32 | not viable |
| Single, $100k, 1-bed centre | $6,228 | $4,234 | $1,993 | 88 | comfortable |
| Couple, $140k, 1-bed centre | $8,373 | $5,872 | $2,500 | 85 | comfortable |
| Family of four, $180k, 3-bed outer | $10,506 | $12,034 | -$1,528 | 18 | not viable |
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FAQ
Frequently asked
What income do you need to live comfortably in Chicago?
On our scoring, "comfortable" means keeping at least 25% of take-home pay after all living costs. For a single adult in a central one-bedroom that needs roughly $89,000 gross a year in Chicago.
Can a family of four live in Chicago on $180,000?
You would be short 1,528 USD every month at this lifestyle level.
Is $100,000 a good salary in Chicago?
1,993 USD a month left over — 32% of take-home pay. Housing takes 36% of it. That scores 88/100 on our affordability scale — "comfortable".