City comparison
Chicago, IL vs Colorado Springs, CO
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Chicago, IL are 2.9% higher than in Colorado Springs, CO. Someone earning $100,000 in Colorado Springs, CO would need about $102,900 in Chicago, IL to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,581 a month in Chicago, IL versus $1,464 in Colorado Springs, CO. On $100,000, that's 26% of take-home pay in Chicago, IL and 23% in Colorado Springs, CO.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,114 a year higher in Chicago, IL than in Colorado Springs, CO.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −8.2% moving from Chicago, IL to Colorado Springs, CO ($118,984 → $109,246), while prices change by −2.8%. Net effect of the transfer: −5.6% in real buying power.
- Chicago, IL: price level 103.6 (pricier)
- Colorado Springs, CO: price level 100.7 (about average)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Chicago, IL | Colorado Springs, CO | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 103.6 | 100.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $97,212 in Colorado Springs | $102,868 in Chicago |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,581/mo | $1,464/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,375 | $75,488 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,805 (IL) | $3,692 (CO) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 26% | 23% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $54,720 | $52,710 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI | Colorado Springs, CO |
Rent areas: Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL HUD Metro FMR Area and Colorado Springs, CO HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN and Colorado Springs, CO.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Chicago | Colorado Springs |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 112.0 | 116.2 |
| Goods | 107.3 | 96.1 |
| Utilities | 83.6 | 83.2 |
| Other services | 100.5 | 99.8 |
| Overall | 103.6 | 100.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Chicago, IL → Colorado Springs, CO
Same pay goes further
Buying power +2.9%; rent takes 23% of take-home; state tax −$1,114/yr.
78 Strong offer
Colorado Springs, CO → Chicago, IL
Same pay buys less
Buying power −2.8%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax +$1,114/yr.
59 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Chicago, IL is in the Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI pay area; Colorado Springs, CO is in Colorado Springs, CO. The last column shows what a transfer from Chicago, IL to Colorado Springs, CO at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Chicago, IL | Colorado Springs, CO | Real change, Chicago → Colorado Springs |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $68,999 | $63,351 | −5.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $83,482 | $76,650 | −5.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $100,059 | $91,870 | −5.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $118,984 | $109,246 | −5.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $140,604 | $129,096 | −5.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Chicago, IL | Colorado Springs, CO | Colorado Springs pay in Chicago dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $78,390 | $61,140 | $62,893 (−19.8%) |
| Software Developers | $134,380 | $134,280 | $138,131 (+2.8%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $82,360 | $85,000 | $87,438 (+6.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $100,490 | $96,140 | $98,897 (−1.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.