Median rent is 27% lower in Cedar City ($1,008/mo vs $1,380/mo). Buying is cheaper in Chicago, where the median home runs $315,200 versus $348,000. Households earn more in Chicago ($75,134 vs $63,789 a year).
City A
Cedar City, UT
City B
Chicago, IL
How much would you need to earn in Chicago, IL to maintain your standard of living from Cedar City, UT?
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
Cedar City
Utah
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
Renters will find significantly cheaper housing in Cedar City — median rent of $1,008/mo versus $1,380/mo in Chicago, a 27% difference. Median home values are within 9% of each other: $348,000 in Cedar City and $315,200 in Chicago.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
Utah's top income tax rate is 4.65% versus 4.95% in Illinois, so Cedar City is more tax-friendly for high earners. Sales tax is 4.85% in Utah and 6.25% in Illinois; Cedar City has the lower rate (local add-ons may apply in both).
Cedar City
Income tax: 4.65%
Sales tax: 4.85%
Chicago
Income tax: 4.95%
Sales tax: 6.25%
Air quality data is available for Chicago (avg AQI 21.0) but not yet for Cedar City.
Pick Chicago if you prioritize higher median household income ($75,134/yr).
Pick Cedar City if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,008/mo median).
Pick Cedar City if you prioritize lower state income tax (4.65%).
Is Cedar City cheaper than Chicago?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Cedar City vs Chicago?
Median rent is $1,008/mo in Cedar City, UT and $1,380/mo in Chicago, IL. Cedar City, UT has the lower rent by about 27%.
Which has higher salaries — Cedar City or Chicago?
Median household income is $63,789 in Cedar City, UT and $75,134 in Chicago, IL. Chicago, IL 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 — Cedar City or Chicago?
Utah's top income tax rate is 4.65% and Illinois's is 4.95%. Cedar City, UT has the lower rate.
What salary do I need in Chicago to match my Cedar City 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