City comparison
Chicago, IL vs Hartford, CT
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Chicago, IL (103.6) and Hartford, CT (102.7, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Chicago, IL goes as far as $99,200 in Hartford, CT.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,581 a month in Chicago, IL versus $1,477 in Hartford, CT. On $100,000, that's 26% of take-home pay in Chicago, IL and 24% in Hartford, CT.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $880 a year higher in Chicago, IL than in Hartford, CT.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +0.9% moving from Chicago, IL to Hartford, CT ($118,984 → $120,094), while prices change by −0.8%. Net effect of the transfer: +1.8% in real buying power.
- Chicago, IL: price level 103.6 (pricier)
- Hartford, CT: price level 102.7 (pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Chicago, IL | Hartford, CT | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 103.6 | 102.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,180 in Hartford | $100,826 in Chicago |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,581/mo | $1,477/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,375 | $75,255 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,805 (IL) | $3,925 (CT) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 26% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $54,720 | $59,940 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI | Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA |
Rent areas: Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL HUD Metro FMR Area and Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT MSA. Metro areas: Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN and Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Chicago | Hartford |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 112.0 | 110.2 |
| Goods | 107.3 | 97.3 |
| Utilities | 83.6 | 144.9 |
| Other services | 100.5 | 102.7 |
| Overall | 103.6 | 102.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Chicago, IL → Hartford, CT
Roughly even
Buying power +0.8%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax −$880/yr.
71 Strong offer
Hartford, CT → Chicago, IL
Roughly even
Buying power −0.8%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax +$880/yr.
65 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Chicago, IL is in the Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI pay area; Hartford, CT is in Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA. The last column shows what a transfer from Chicago, IL to Hartford, CT at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Chicago, IL | Hartford, CT | Real change, Chicago → Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $68,999 | $69,642 | +1.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $83,482 | $84,260 | +1.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $100,059 | $100,992 | +1.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $118,984 | $120,094 | +1.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $140,604 | $141,915 | +1.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Chicago, IL | Hartford, CT | Hartford pay in Chicago dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $78,390 | $79,800 | $80,459 (+2.6%) |
| Software Developers | $134,380 | $132,520 | $133,615 (−0.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $82,360 | $95,940 | $96,733 (+17.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $100,490 | $101,470 | $102,308 (+1.8%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.