Median rent is 16% lower in Spokane ($1,215/mo vs $1,440/mo). Buying is cheaper in Chicago, where the median home runs $334,100 versus $363,500. Households earn more in Chicago ($77,902 vs $70,064 a year). Taken together, Spokane is the more affordable choice with a cost index of 92.4 against 102.5 — about 10% lower overall prices.
Cost of living verdict
Spokane is 10% cheaper overall
Cost of Living Index: 92.4 in Spokane vs 102.5 in Chicago (US national average = 100)
City A
Chicago, IL
City B
Spokane, WA
How much would you need to earn in Spokane, WA to maintain your standard of living from Chicago, IL?
Equivalent salary in Spokane, WA
$67,604
You could earn $7,396 less (10% 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
Spokane
Washington
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 Spokane at $1,215/mo compared to $1,440/mo in Chicago (16% gap). Median home values are within 8% of each other: $334,100 in Chicago and $363,500 in Spokane.
Metric
Chicago
Spokane
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
Spokane
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Chicago has cleaner air on average: 31.0 AQI (Good) compared to 52.0 AQI (Moderate) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Pick Spokane if you prioritize lower overall cost of living (index 92.4 vs 102.5).
Pick Chicago if you prioritize higher median household income ($77,902/yr).
Pick Spokane if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,215/mo median).
Pick Chicago if you prioritize cleaner air quality (avg AQI 31.0).
Spokane is cheaper overall, with a cost of living index of 92.4 versus 102.5 (US average = 100). That means prices run about 10% lower in Spokane.
Median rent is $1,440/mo in Chicago, IL and $1,215/mo in Spokane, WA. Spokane, WA has the lower rent by about 16%.
Median household income is $77,902 in Chicago, IL and $70,064 in Spokane, WA. Chicago, IL 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 52.0 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 $90,138 in Spokane, WA (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
