Cost of living, Chicago
103.6
BEA Regional Price Parity vs US average of 100 (2024). Chicago sits about 3.6% above national prices.
BLS OEWS median, May 2025, as of May 15, 2026. BEA RPP all-items, 2024. Disclaimer
- vs US
- +3.6%
- Metro
- Chicago
- CBSA
- 16980
Chicago all-items RPP is 103.6 (2024), about 3.6% above US-average prices. A $90,000 salary at national prices maps to about $93,240 here for equal purchasing power.
Price components in Chicago
| Component | Chicago | US |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 103.6 | 100 |
| Goods | 107.3 | 100 |
| Housing (rents) | 112.0 | 100 |
| Other services | 100.5 | 100 |
BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, US = 100.
What a US-average salary buys in Chicago
| At US average | In Chicago |
|---|---|
| $60,000 | $62,160 |
| $90,000 | $93,240 |
| $150,000 | $155,400 |
Local equivalent = national salary × (103.6 ÷ 100). BEA RPP 2024.
Top wages here
FAQ
- What is the cost of living in Chicago?
- The BEA Regional Price Parity (all items, 2024) for Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN is 103.6, versus a US average of 100 (+3.6%).
- How is RPP different from CPI?
- CPI tracks price change over time. RPP compares price levels across places in a given year versus the national average of 100. PayByCity uses RPP for cross-metro purchasing power, including goods, housing rents, and other services components.
- How should I use this with OEWS wages?
- Pair local BLS OEWS medians (May 2025) with this RPP. A $90,000 salary at US-average prices maps to about $93,240 in Chicago for equal purchasing power.
- Does this include taxes or housing alone?
- No. All-items RPP is a broad price-level index. Component indexes show goods, rents, and other services separately, but this is not a rent quote, tax estimate, or household budget.
What this covers
Includes
- BEA Regional Price Parities (all items, goods, housing rents, other services)
- BLS OEWS median wages, percentile bands, and employment where published
- Purchasing-power math: salary × (destination RPP ÷ origin RPP)
Does not include
- Federal, state, or local income taxes
- Childcare, healthcare premiums, or leave benefits
- Job openings. OEWS employment is a published stock estimate, not hiring demand
Highest wages here
- Chief Executives , 3,610 OEWS emp. $344,960
- Computer and Information Systems Managers , 24,950 OEWS emp. $173,760
- Financial Managers , 41,590 OEWS emp. $168,810
- Lawyers , 28,320 OEWS emp. $165,660
- Marketing Managers , 17,400 OEWS emp. $165,340
- Architectural and Engineering Managers , 6,670 OEWS emp. $163,430
See methodology and disclaimer.