Median rent is 16% lower in Chicago ($1,380/mo vs $1,636/mo). Buying is cheaper in Dania Beach, where the median home runs $296,100 versus $315,200. Households earn more in Chicago ($75,134 vs $50,948 a year).
City A
Chicago, IL
City B
Dania Beach, FL
How much would you need to earn in Dania Beach, FL to maintain your standard of living from Chicago, IL?
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
Chicago
Illinois
Dania Beach
Florida
👥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 Chicago at $1,380/mo compared to $1,636/mo in Dania Beach (16% gap). Median home values are within 6% of each other: $315,200 in Chicago and $296,100 in Dania Beach.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
Florida has no state income tax, while Illinois tops out at 4.95% — giving Dania Beach a clear advantage for high earners. Sales tax is 6.25% in Illinois and 6.00% in Florida; Dania Beach has the lower rate (local add-ons may apply in both).
Chicago
Income tax: 4.95%
Sales tax: 6.25%
Dania Beach
Income tax: None
Sales tax: 6.00%
Air quality data is available for Chicago (avg AQI 21.0) but not yet for Dania Beach.
Pick Chicago if you prioritize higher median household income ($75,134/yr).
Pick Chicago if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,380/mo median).
Pick Dania Beach if you prioritize no state income tax.
Is Chicago cheaper than Dania Beach?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Chicago vs Dania Beach?
Median rent is $1,380/mo in Chicago, IL and $1,636/mo in Dania Beach, FL. Chicago, IL has the lower rent by about 16%.
Which has higher salaries — Chicago or Dania Beach?
Median household income is $75,134 in Chicago, IL and $50,948 in Dania Beach, FL. 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 — Chicago or Dania Beach?
Florida has no state income tax. Illinois has a top rate of 4.95%.
What salary do I need in Dania Beach to match my Chicago 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