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Chicago vs Austin

Austin runs about 21% cheaper than Chicago for this household, a difference of 879 USD a month.

View of Chicago from Willis Tower
Chicago
$4,234/month · United States
Andrew Horne · CC BY 2.0
The skyline of Austin, the capital city of Texas. With a population of 961,855, it's the 13th-most populous city in the U.S.
Austin
$3,356/month · United States
Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0
Chicago monthly
$4,234
Index 66 (NYC = 100)
Austin monthly
$3,356
Index 53 (NYC = 100)
Difference
-21%
Austin relative to Chicago
Rent gap
$785
Chicago costs more for a central 1-bed
By category

Where the gap actually is

ChicagoAustin
  • Housing
    Housing: Chicago $2,228, Austin $1,443. Cheaper in Austin.
  • Food
    Food: Chicago $788, Austin $755. Cheaper in Austin.
  • Transport
    Transport: Chicago $154, Austin $114. Cheaper in Austin.
  • Utilities
    Utilities: Chicago $221, Austin $235. Cheaper in Chicago.
  • Healthcare
    Healthcare: Chicago $525, Austin $513. Cheaper in Austin.
  • Lifestyle
    Lifestyle: Chicago $170, Austin $154. Cheaper in Austin.
  • Other
    Other: Chicago $149, Austin $142. Cheaper in Austin.
Each row is one category priced in both cities for the same household. The bar is the gap; exact figures are in the table below.
Interactive — adjust the household

Full comparison

MetricChicagoAustin
Cost
Total monthly cost4,234 USD3,356 USD✓
Cost index (New York = 100)6653✓
Housing2,228 USD1,443 USD✓
Utilities221 USD✓235 USD
Food788 USD755 USD✓
Transport154 USD114 USD✓
Healthcare525 USD513 USD✓
Lifestyle170 USD154 USD✓
Income & tax
Take-home on 100,000 USD/yr6,228 USD6,575 USD✓
Effective tax + social rate25.3%21.1%✓
Left over each month1,993 USD3,219 USD✓
Average local net salary4,400 USD4,700 USD✓
Housing
1-bed rent, city centre2,228 USD1,443 USD✓
3-bed rent, city centre4,244 USD2,623 USD✓
Buy price per m², centre4,500 USD4,200 USD✓
Quality of life
Safety52/10062/100✓
Healthcare84/100✓78/100
Air quality62/10070/100✓
Public transport78/100✓32/100
Walkability80/100✓45/100
English proficiency100/100100/100
Nightlife88/100✓82/100
Family friendliness66/10074/100✓
Median broadband210 Mbps280 Mbps✓
Climate
Average temperature10°C✓21°C
Summer high29°C✓35°C
Winter low-8°C4°C✓
Sunshine hours per year2,500 h2,650 h✓
Annual rainfall990 mm870 mm✓
Practicalities
Remote-work visaNoNo
Beach access15 min✓None nearby
CurrencyUSDUSD
Time zoneAmerica/ChicagoAmerica/Chicago

Austin runs about 21% cheaper than Chicago for this household, a difference of 879 USD a month.

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Cost of living in ChicagoCost of living in AustinConvert a salary between themFlip the comparison
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FAQ

Frequently asked

Is Chicago or Austin cheaper?

Austin runs about 21% cheaper than Chicago for this household, a difference of 879 USD a month.

What salary do you need in Austin compared with Chicago?

On a $100,000 gross salary you would take home $6,228 a month in Chicago and $6,575 in Austin, before local costs. Use the salary converter for an exact equivalent.

Which has better quality of life, Chicago or Austin?

Chicago scores 52/100 on safety and 84/100 on healthcare; Austin scores 62 and 78. Chicago averages 10°C against 21°C in Austin.