Median rent is 9% lower in Bethel Park ($1,259/mo vs $1,380/mo). Buying is cheaper in Bethel Park, where the median home runs $258,700 versus $315,200. Households earn more in Bethel Park ($104,129 vs $75,134 a year).
City A
Bethel Park, PA
City B
Chicago, IL
How much would you need to earn in Chicago, IL to maintain your standard of living from Bethel Park, PA?
A cost-of-living index isn't available for one of these cities yet, so we can't compute an equivalent salary.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each city's metro area. A rough estimate of overall purchasing power, not tax or take-home pay.
Metric
Bethel Park
Pennsylvania
Chicago
Illinois
👥Population
💰Median Household Income
Annual
🏠Median Gross Rent
Per month
🏡Median Home Value
📊Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
🔑1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🔑2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🔑3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🌬️Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
🏛️Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
🧾State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
🎂Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Median rent is modestly lower in Bethel Park at $1,259/mo compared to $1,380/mo in Chicago (9% gap). Median home values are within 18% of each other: $258,700 in Bethel Park and $315,200 in Chicago.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
Pennsylvania's top income tax rate is 3.07% versus 4.95% in Illinois, so Bethel Park is more tax-friendly for high earners. Sales tax is 6.00% in Pennsylvania and 6.25% in Illinois; Bethel Park has the lower rate (local add-ons may apply in both).
Bethel Park
Income tax: 3.07%
Sales tax: 6.00%
Chicago
Income tax: 4.95%
Sales tax: 6.25%
Air quality data is available for Chicago (avg AQI 21.0) but not yet for Bethel Park.
Pick Bethel Park if you prioritize higher median household income ($104,129/yr).
Pick Bethel Park if you prioritize lower state income tax (3.07%).
Is Bethel Park cheaper than Chicago?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Bethel Park vs Chicago?
Median rent is $1,259/mo in Bethel Park, PA and $1,380/mo in Chicago, IL. Bethel Park, PA has the lower rent by about 9%.
Which has higher salaries — Bethel Park or Chicago?
Median household income is $104,129 in Bethel Park, PA and $75,134 in Chicago, IL. Bethel Park, PA has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Which city has better air quality?
Air quality data is not yet available for one or both cities.
Which has lower taxes — Bethel Park or Chicago?
Pennsylvania's top income tax rate is 3.07% and Illinois's is 4.95%. Bethel Park, PA has the lower rate.
What salary do I need in Chicago to match my Bethel Park income?
RPP data needed for salary equivalence calculation is not yet available.
Data last updated: December 1, 2024 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology