Median rent is 17% lower in Chicago ($1,380/mo vs $1,661/mo). Buying is cheaper in Chicago, where the median home runs $315,200 versus $548,400. Households earn more in Fort Collins ($83,598 vs $75,134 a year).
City A
Chicago, IL
City B
Fort Collins, CO
How much would you need to earn in Fort Collins, CO 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
Fort Collins
Colorado
👥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 $1,661/mo in Fort Collins (17% gap). Home buyers face a steeper market in Fort Collins: the median home is $548,400 versus $315,200 in Chicago — 43% more expensive.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
Illinois's top income tax rate is 4.95% versus 4.40% in Colorado, so Fort Collins is more tax-friendly for high earners. Sales tax is 6.25% in Illinois and 2.90% in Colorado; Fort Collins has the lower rate (local add-ons may apply in both).
Chicago
Income tax: 4.95%
Sales tax: 6.25%
Fort Collins
Income tax: 4.40%
Sales tax: 2.90%
Chicago has cleaner air on average: 21.0 AQI (Good) compared to 26.0 AQI (Good) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Pick Fort Collins if you prioritize higher median household income ($83,598/yr).
Pick Chicago if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,380/mo median).
Pick Fort Collins if you prioritize lower state income tax (4.40%).
Is Chicago cheaper than Fort Collins?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Chicago vs Fort Collins?
Median rent is $1,380/mo in Chicago, IL and $1,661/mo in Fort Collins, CO. Chicago, IL has the lower rent by about 17%.
Which has higher salaries — Chicago or Fort Collins?
Median household income is $75,134 in Chicago, IL and $83,598 in Fort Collins, CO. Fort Collins, CO 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?
Chicago, IL has better air quality on average: 21.0 AQI versus 26.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
Which has lower taxes — Chicago or Fort Collins?
Illinois's top income tax rate is 4.95% and Colorado's is 4.40%. Fort Collins, CO has the lower rate.
What salary do I need in Fort Collins 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