Median rent is 46% lower in Chicago ($1,440/mo vs $2,669/mo). Buying is cheaper in Chicago, where the median home runs $334,100 versus $1,233,200. Households earn more in San Jose ($146,427 vs $77,902 a year).
City A
Chicago, IL
City B
San Jose, CA
How much would you need to earn in San Jose, CA 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 metro area. This estimates overall purchasing power; it does not account for taxes or take-home pay differences.
Metric
Chicago
Illinois
San Jose
California
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
Renters will find significantly cheaper housing in Chicago — median rent of $1,440/mo versus $2,669/mo in San Jose, a 46% difference. Home buyers face a steeper market in San Jose: the median home is $1,233,200 versus $334,100 in Chicago — 73% more expensive.
Metric
Chicago
San Jose
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
San Jose
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Chicago has cleaner air on average: 31.0 AQI (Good) compared to 65.0 AQI (Moderate) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Pick San Jose if you prioritize higher median household income ($146,427/yr).
Pick Chicago if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,440/mo median).
Pick Chicago if you prioritize cleaner air quality (avg AQI 31.0).
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
Median rent is $1,440/mo in Chicago, IL and $2,669/mo in San Jose, CA. Chicago, IL has the lower rent by about 46%.
Median household income is $77,902 in Chicago, IL and $146,427 in San Jose, CA. San Jose, CA has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Chicago, IL has better air quality on average: 31.0 AQI versus 65.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
RPP data needed for salary equivalence calculation is not yet available.
Data last updated: June 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
