Chicago, Illinois has an overall cost of living index of 102.5, which is 2.5 points above the US average of 100 — making it about average versus most American cities. Renters pay a median of $1,440 per month, while the typical home is valued around $334,100. Households earn a median of $77,902 per year, leaving rent at a manageable share of income for many residents. Air quality is good, with an average AQI of 31. Below: housing costs, local wages by occupation, neighborhoods, climate, jobs and major industries, and healthcare access — all drawn from US Census, BEA, BLS, HUD, EPA, and NOAA data.
$77,902
Median Income / yr
Census ACS
$1,440
Median Rent / mo
Census ACS
$334,100
Median Home Value
Census ACS
102.5
Cost of Living Index
Studio FMR
$1,480
HUD · FY2024
1BR Fair Market Rent
$1,581
HUD · FY2024
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,781
HUD · FY2024
3BR Fair Market Rent
$2,294
HUD · FY2024
Fair Market Rent is the 40th percentile of gross rents in the metro area · HUD FY2024
Each category indexed to the US average of 100. Below 100 = cheaper than average.
Overall
102.5
Goods
104.3
Rents / Housing
111.0
Services
77.0
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro-level)
| Occupation | Median Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Software Developer | $130,930 |
| Registered Nurse | $94,580 |
| Elementary Teacher | $73,950 |
| Electrician | $92,320 |
| Accountant | $92,100 |
| Plumber | $92,410 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $227,170 |
| Civil Engineer | $107,650 |
| Operations Manager | $142,650 |
| Market Research Analyst | $82,980 |
| Health Services Manager | $141,690 |
| Truck Driver | $64,990 |
| Physician Assistant | N/A |
| Surgeon | N/A |
| Data Scientist | N/A |
| Computer Engineer | $111,810 |
Source: BLS OEWS 2023 (metro-level data)
Population
2,711,226
Latest estimate
Median Age
35.8 yrs
Census ACS
31.0
Good0 = clean · 50 = moderate boundary · lower is better
Source: EPA AirNow
Total Neighborhoods
64
Tracked in our database
Avg Walk Score
N/A
0–100 scale
Avg Median Rent
$1,441
Per month
Avg Home Value
$342,662
Census ACS
| Neighborhood | Walk Score | Median Rent | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZIP 60007 | — | $1,541 | $324,900 |
| ZIP 60018 | — | $1,136 | $287,800 |
| ZIP 60106 | — | $1,330 | $264,400 |
| ZIP 60131 | — | $1,111 | $246,500 |
| ZIP 60176 | — | $1,212 | $269,700 |
| ZIP 60601 | — | $2,513 | $556,900 |
| ZIP 60602 | — | $2,277 | — |
| ZIP 60603 | — | $2,056 | $757,500 |
| ZIP 60604 | — | $2,167 | $601,300 |
| ZIP 60605 | — | $2,330 | $480,000 |
Showing top 10 of 64 tracked neighborhoods.
January Avg
26°F
July Avg
76°F
Sunny Days / Year
—
Annual Snowfall
—
Climate category: Continental · Source: NOAA/NCEI 30-year normals.
Healthcare Score
30.5
poor
Hospitals
34
Doctors per 1,000
1.00
Insurance Coverage
90.2%
Chicago has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 102.5. The US national average is 100, so Chicago is 2.5 points above the national average.
The median gross rent in Chicago is $1,440 per month according to US Census ACS data.
The median household income in Chicago is $77,902 per year.
The median home value in Chicago is $334,100 based on the latest Census ACS survey.
Chicago has an average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 31.0, which is rated "Good" by the EPA. Lower AQI values indicate cleaner air.
Tax data for Illinois is not yet available.
Data last updated: June 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
