Median rent is 7% lower in Rock Hill ($1,279/mo vs $1,380/mo). Buying is cheaper in Rock Hill, where the median home runs $267,400 versus $315,200. Households earn more in Chicago ($75,134 vs $64,770 a year).
City A
Chicago, IL
City B
Rock Hill, SC
How much would you need to earn in Rock Hill, SC 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
Rock Hill
South Carolina
👥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 Rock Hill at $1,279/mo compared to $1,380/mo in Chicago (7% gap). Median home values are within 15% of each other: $315,200 in Chicago and $267,400 in Rock Hill.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
Illinois's top income tax rate is 4.95% versus 6.40% in South Carolina, so Chicago is more tax-friendly for high earners. Sales tax is 6.25% in Illinois and 6.00% in South Carolina; Rock Hill has the lower rate (local add-ons may apply in both).
Chicago
Income tax: 4.95%
Sales tax: 6.25%
Rock Hill
Income tax: 6.40%
Sales tax: 6.00%
Air quality data is available for Chicago (avg AQI 21.0) but not yet for Rock Hill.
Pick Chicago if you prioritize higher median household income ($75,134/yr).
Pick Chicago if you prioritize lower state income tax (4.95%).
Is Chicago cheaper than Rock Hill?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Chicago vs Rock Hill?
Median rent is $1,380/mo in Chicago, IL and $1,279/mo in Rock Hill, SC. Rock Hill, SC has the lower rent by about 7%.
Which has higher salaries — Chicago or Rock Hill?
Median household income is $75,134 in Chicago, IL and $64,770 in Rock Hill, SC. 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 Rock Hill?
Illinois's top income tax rate is 4.95% and South Carolina's is 6.40%. Chicago, IL has the lower rate.
What salary do I need in Rock Hill 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