Median rent is 47% lower in Urbana ($972/mo vs $1,821/mo). Buying is cheaper in Urbana, where the median home runs $184,900 versus $777,600. Households earn more in New York ($80,483 vs $45,346 a year).
City A
New York, NY
City B
Urbana, IL
How much would you need to earn in Urbana, IL to maintain your standard of living from New York, NY?
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
New York
New York
Urbana
Illinois
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 Urbana — median rent of $972/mo versus $1,821/mo in New York, a 47% difference. Home buyers face a steeper market in New York: the median home is $777,600 versus $184,900 in Urbana — 76% more expensive.
Metric
New York
Urbana
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.
New York
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Urbana
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Air quality data is available for New York (avg AQI 46.0) but not yet for Urbana.
Pick New York if you prioritize higher median household income ($80,483/yr).
Pick Urbana if you prioritize cheaper rent ($972/mo median).
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
Median rent is $1,821/mo in New York, NY and $972/mo in Urbana, IL. Urbana, IL has the lower rent by about 47%.
Median household income is $80,483 in New York, NY and $45,346 in Urbana, IL. New York, NY has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Air quality data is not yet available for one or both cities.
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
