City comparison
Chicago, IL vs Dallas, TX
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Chicago, IL (103.6) and Dallas, TX (103.1, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Chicago, IL goes as far as $99,500 in Dallas, TX.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,581 a month in Chicago, IL and $1,648 in Dallas, TX.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $4,805 a year higher in Chicago, IL than in Dallas, TX.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −2.8% moving from Chicago, IL to Dallas, TX ($118,984 → $115,711), while prices change by −0.5%. Net effect of the transfer: −2.3% in real buying power.
- Chicago, IL: price level 103.6 (pricier)
- Dallas, TX: price level 103.1 (pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Chicago, IL | Dallas, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 103.6 | 103.1 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,513 in Dallas | $100,490 in Chicago |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,581/mo | $1,648/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,375 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,805 (IL) | $0 (TX) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 26% | 25% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $54,720 | $51,440 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI | Dallas-Fort Worth, TX-OK |
Rent areas: Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL HUD Metro FMR Area and Dallas, TX HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN and Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Chicago | Dallas |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 112.0 | 117.9 |
| Goods | 107.3 | 102.8 |
| Utilities | 83.6 | 90.7 |
| Other services | 100.5 | 99.7 |
| Overall | 103.6 | 103.1 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Chicago, IL → Dallas, TX
Roughly even
Buying power +0.5%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax −$4,805/yr.
70 Strong offer
Dallas, TX → Chicago, IL
Roughly even
Buying power −0.5%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax +$4,805/yr.
66 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Chicago, IL is in the Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI pay area; Dallas, TX is in Dallas-Fort Worth, TX-OK. The last column shows what a transfer from Chicago, IL to Dallas, TX at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Chicago, IL | Dallas, TX | Real change, Chicago → Dallas |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $68,999 | $67,100 | −2.3% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $83,482 | $81,186 | −2.3% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $100,059 | $97,307 | −2.3% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $118,984 | $115,711 | −2.3% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $140,604 | $136,736 | −2.3% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Chicago, IL | Dallas, TX | Dallas pay in Chicago dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $78,390 | $65,070 | $65,389 (−16.6%) |
| Software Developers | $134,380 | $133,290 | $133,943 (−0.3%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $82,360 | $82,620 | $83,025 (+0.8%) |
| Registered Nurses | $100,490 | $101,420 | $101,917 (+1.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.