$90,000 in Chicago ≈ $89,739 in Phoenix (−0.3% cost of living)
$89,739
Target salary in Phoenix for the same standard of living.
Cost of living target · prices −0.3% vs Chicago.
Cost & tax landscape
Move metrics
How price levels, target salary, and state tax line up for Chicago → Phoenix.
| Metric | Chicago | Phoenix | Delta |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost of living index | 103.6 | 103.3 | −0.3% overall |
| Groceries & goods | 107.3 | 95.0 | −11.5% |
| Housing & rent | 112.0 | 121.2 | +8.2% |
| Everyday services | 100.5 | 104.0 | +3.5% |
| Base / COL target | $90,000 | $89,739 COL target | −$261 (−0.3%) |
| State income tax (single) | ~$4,310 | ~$1,983 | −$2,327 tax drag |
| Tax parity target | $90,000 | $87,673 Tax match | −$2,327 (−2.6%) |
COL target is purchasing-power equivalence. Tax parity target matches after-state-tax dollars only, not cost of living. State tax is approximate single-filer.
Tax take-home
Two different questions. Don’t mix them with the cost-of-living headline above.
- Cost of living target
- $89,739
- Tax parity target
- $87,673
Gross needed in Phoenix for the same purchasing power as your $90,000 in Chicago, before taxes.
Gross needed in Phoenix to keep the same after-tax dollar amount of about $85,690 (without accounting for the lower cost of living) .
On $90,000 in Chicago, you keep about $85,690 after Illinois tax. Matching that take-home under Arizona tax is the tax parity target above (roughly $2,327 less gross) .
- Money in pocket (est.)
- $85,690
- IL state tax
- $4,310
- AZ state tax on match
- $1,983
- Tax parity vs origin gross
- −$2,327
Approximate single-filer state income tax only (Tax year 2026 (approximate single-filer schedules)). No federal tax, FICA, local city tax, or credits. Multi-state metros use the primary state code. Not tax advice.
Rate sources: Tax Foundation: State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets (2026); Federation of Tax Administrators: State Individual Income Taxes . Details in methodology and disclaimer.
Career & jobs
Local salary guide
only when local median ≥ your cost-of-living target ( $89,739). Below-target roles show no badge.
| Occupation | Phoenix | Gap |
|---|---|---|
| General and Operations Managers | $98,610
Beats target
| −9.9% |
| Registered Nurses | $100,830
Beats target
| +0.3% |
| Office Clerks, General | $47,680
Beats target
| +2.9% |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $59,770
Beats target
| −4.1% |
| Software Developers | $131,750
Beats target
| −2.0% |
| Construction Laborers | $46,910
Beats target
| −23.0% |
| Maintenance and Repair Workers, General | $48,930
Beats target
| −15.7% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $65,470
Beats target
| −8.7% |
Local salary guide May 2025. Gaps over 50% omitted. Sorted by local jobs in field.
Find General and Operations Managers jobs in Phoenix
- General and Operations Managers
- Registered Nurses
- Office Clerks, General
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
- Software Developers
- Construction Laborers
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General
- First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive
- Accountants and Auditors
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel
- Project Management Specialists
- Electricians
- First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks
- Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks
- Human Resources Specialists
- Medical Assistants
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
- Computer User Support Specialists
- First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers
- Management Analysts
- Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants
- Carpenters
- Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents
- Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists
- Financial Managers
- Computer and Information Systems Managers
- Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators
- Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics
- Sales Managers
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators
- Training and Development Specialists
- Pharmacy Technicians
- Computer Systems Analysts
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
- First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers
- Insurance Sales Agents
- Correctional Officers and Jailers
- Lawyers
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling
- Buyers and Purchasing Agents
- Medical and Health Services Managers
- Loan Officers
- Construction Managers
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers
- Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
- Compliance Officers
- Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors
- Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers
- Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products
- Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks
- Psychiatric Technicians
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
- First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers
- Paralegals and Legal Assistants
- Dental Assistants
- Billing and Posting Clerks
- Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers
- Industrial Engineers
- Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors
- Managers, All Other
- Nurse Practitioners
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
- Administrative Services Managers
- Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians
- Bill and Account Collectors
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers
- Pharmacists
- Personal Financial Advisors
- Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants
- Social and Human Service Assistants
- Civil Engineers
- Instructional Coordinators
- Financial and Investment Analysts
- Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
- Cost Estimators
- Network and Computer Systems Administrators
- Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors
- Marketing Managers
- Firefighters
- Loan Interviewers and Clerks
- Painters, Construction and Maintenance
- Public Relations Specialists
- Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers
- Physical Therapists
- Industrial Machinery Mechanics
- Mechanical Engineers
- Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary
- Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists
- Data Scientists
- Radiologic Technologists and Technicians
- Electrical Engineers
- Computer Occupations, All Other
- Logisticians
- Computer Network Architects
- Coaches and Scouts
- Architectural and Engineering Managers
- Dental Hygienists
- Machinists
- Human Resources Managers
- Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers
- Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other
- Physician Assistants
- Bus Drivers, School
- Chefs and Head Cooks
- Graphic Designers
- Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other
- Industrial Production Managers
- Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks
- Speech-Language Pathologists
- Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers
- Information Security Analysts
- Food Service Managers
- Medical Records Specialists
- Facilities Managers
- Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary
- Court, Municipal, and License Clerks
- Healthcare Social Workers
- First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers
- Occupational Therapists
- Social and Community Service Managers
- First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers
- Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants
- Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
- Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists
- Self-Enrichment Teachers
- First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives
- Special Education Teachers, Secondary School
- Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators
- Engineers, All Other
- Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
- Highway Maintenance Workers
Type to filter, e.g. Software, Accountant
$109,390 in Chicago → $98,610 in Phoenix (−9.9%)
See current openings for General and Operations Managers in Phoenix.
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Counter-offer letter
Turn your cost-of-living target into a one-click negotiation draft you can edit and send.
Template only. Not legal or career advice. Cite your own offer details before sending.
Target salary ladder in Phoenix
| In Chicago | In Phoenix |
|---|---|
| $60,000 | $59,826 |
| $90,000 | $89,739 |
| $150,000 | $149,566 |
Target salary keeps the same standard of living.
FAQ
- What salary do I need in Phoenix to match $90,000 in Chicago?
- About $89,739, your target salary for the same standard of living, based on cost of living indexes of 103.6 and 103.3 (2024). Not financial advice.
- Why is Phoenix less expensive than Chicago?
- The biggest everyday cost difference when moving from Chicago to Phoenix is groceries & goods, which runs about 11.5% less expensive in Phoenix. Overall cost of living index is 103.6 in Chicago vs 103.3 in Phoenix (2024, US average = 100).
- How do published wages compare for a move from Chicago to Phoenix?
- Among jobs with published local salary medians in both metros (excluding gaps over 50%), General and Operations Managers is among the highest-employment matches: $109,390 in Chicago vs $98,610 in Phoenix (−9.9%; about 81,520 local jobs in the field at the destination). The table below lists other high-employment occupations.
- How do state income taxes change take-home from Chicago to Phoenix?
- Two different targets: the cost of living target is about $89,739 (gross for the same purchasing power). Separately, the tax parity target is about $87,673, the gross you’d need in Phoenix to keep the same after-tax dollars (~$85,690) you keep after Illinois tax on $90,000 in Chicago, without adjusting for cost of living. Approximate single-filer state schedules (Tax Foundation 2026). Not tax advice.
- What is not included in this comparison?
- Local city taxes, federal tax, FICA, childcare, healthcare premiums, leave benefits, and job openings are not modeled. Approximate state income tax take-home is shown separately where schedules are available. Use these figures as a starting point, not advice.
What this Chicago → Phoenix move covers
The biggest everyday cost difference when moving from Chicago to Phoenix is groceries & goods, which runs about 11.5% less expensive in Phoenix. Cost of living index 2024; local salary guide May 2025.
Includes
- Cost of living index for everyday expenses (housing, groceries & goods, services)
- Local salary guide: median pay, typical pay range, and jobs in the field where published
- Target salary math so you keep the same standard of living after a move
- Approximate single-filer state income tax take-home on compare pages (see rate sources on the page)
Does not include
- Local city taxes, credits, filing-status variants, or tax advice
- Childcare, healthcare premiums, or leave benefits
- Job openings. “Local jobs in field” is how many people work in the role, not hiring demand
Technical source names (RPP, OEWS) and formulas live on the methodology page.
See methodology and disclaimer.