Median rent is 19% lower in Huntsville ($1,171/mo vs $1,440/mo). Buying is cheaper in Huntsville, where the median home runs $293,600 versus $334,100. Households earn more in Chicago ($77,902 vs $74,714 a year). Taken together, Huntsville is the more affordable choice with a cost index of 88.1 against 102.5 — about 14% lower overall prices. After adjusting income for local prices, a typical paycheck stretches further in Huntsville, AL.
Cost of living verdict
Huntsville is 14% cheaper overall
Cost of Living Index: 88.1 in Huntsville vs 102.5 in Chicago (US national average = 100)
City A
Chicago, IL
City B
Huntsville, AL
How much would you need to earn in Huntsville, AL to maintain your standard of living from Chicago, IL?
Equivalent salary in Huntsville, AL
$64,477
You could earn $10,523 less (14% lower) and break even.
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
Chicago
Illinois
Huntsville
Alabama
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 Huntsville at $1,171/mo compared to $1,440/mo in Chicago (19% gap). Median home values are within 12% of each other: $334,100 in Chicago and $293,600 in Huntsville.
Metric
Chicago
Huntsville
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.
Chicago
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Huntsville
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Huntsville has cleaner air on average: 28.0 AQI (Good) compared to 31.0 AQI (Good) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Pick Huntsville if you prioritize lower overall cost of living (index 88.1 vs 102.5).
Pick Huntsville if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,171/mo median).
Huntsville is cheaper overall, with a cost of living index of 88.1 versus 102.5 (US average = 100). That means prices run about 14% lower in Huntsville.
Median rent is $1,440/mo in Chicago, IL and $1,171/mo in Huntsville, AL. Huntsville, AL has the lower rent by about 19%.
Median household income is $77,902 in Chicago, IL and $74,714 in Huntsville, AL. Chicago, IL has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Huntsville, AL has better air quality on average: 28.0 AQI versus 31.0 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 Chicago, IL is equivalent to roughly $85,970 in Huntsville, AL (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
