Median rent is 17% lower in Chicago ($1,440/mo vs $1,738/mo). Buying is cheaper in Chicago, where the median home runs $334,100 versus $580,200. Households earn more in Cary ($134,905 vs $77,902 a year). Taken together, Cary is the more affordable choice with a cost index of 98.4 against 102.5 — about 4% lower overall prices. After adjusting income for local prices, a typical paycheck stretches further in Cary, NC.
Cost of living verdict
Cary is 4% cheaper overall
Cost of Living Index: 98.4 in Cary vs 102.5 in Chicago (US national average = 100)
City A
Cary, NC
City B
Chicago, IL
How much would you need to earn in Chicago, IL to maintain your standard of living from Cary, NC?
Equivalent salary in Chicago, IL
$78,150
You'd need $3,150 more (4% higher).
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each metro area. This estimates overall purchasing power; it does not account for taxes or take-home pay differences.
Metric
Cary
North Carolina
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: Census ACS, BEA, HUD Fair Market Rents, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Median rent is modestly lower in Chicago at $1,440/mo compared to $1,738/mo in Cary (17% gap). Home buyers face a steeper market in Cary: the median home is $580,200 versus $334,100 in Chicago — 42% more expensive.
Metric
Cary
Chicago
Software Developer
Registered Nurse
Elementary Teacher
Electrician
Accountant
Higher wage highlighted · BLS OEWS 2023 (metro-level data)
State tax data is not yet available for these cities.
Cary
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Chicago
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Chicago has cleaner air on average: 31.0 AQI (Good) compared to 47.0 AQI (Good) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Pick Cary if you prioritize lower overall cost of living (index 98.4 vs 102.5).
Pick Cary if you prioritize higher median household income ($134,905/yr).
Pick Chicago if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,440/mo median).
Pick Chicago if you prioritize cleaner air quality (avg AQI 31.0).
Cary is cheaper overall, with a cost of living index of 98.4 versus 102.5 (US average = 100). That means prices run about 4% lower in Cary.
Median rent is $1,738/mo in Cary, NC and $1,440/mo in Chicago, IL. Chicago, IL has the lower rent by about 17%.
Median household income is $134,905 in Cary, NC and $77,902 in Chicago, IL. Cary, NC has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Chicago, IL has better air quality on average: 31.0 AQI versus 47.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
To maintain the same purchasing power, a salary of $100,000 in Cary, NC is equivalent to roughly $104,200 in Chicago, IL (using the BEA Regional Price Parity ratio). Use the salary calculator above for any income amount.
Data last updated: June 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
