City comparison
Chicago, IL vs Phoenix, AZ
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Chicago, IL (103.6) and Phoenix, AZ (103.3, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Chicago, IL goes as far as $99,700 in Phoenix, AZ.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,581 a month in Chicago, IL and $1,583 in Phoenix, AZ.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $2,514 a year higher in Chicago, IL than in Phoenix, AZ.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −6.4% moving from Chicago, IL to Phoenix, AZ ($118,984 → $111,338), while prices change by −0.3%. Net effect of the transfer: −6.2% in real buying power.
- Chicago, IL: price level 103.6 (pricier)
- Phoenix, AZ: price level 103.3 (pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Chicago, IL | Phoenix, AZ | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 103.6 | 103.3 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,731 in Phoenix | $100,270 in Chicago |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,581/mo | $1,583/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,375 | $76,889 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,805 (IL) | $2,291 (AZ) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 26% | 25% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $54,720 | $51,380 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI | Phoenix-Mesa, AZ |
Rent areas: Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL HUD Metro FMR Area and Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ MSA. Metro areas: Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN and Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Chicago | Phoenix |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 112.0 | 121.2 |
| Goods | 107.3 | 95.0 |
| Utilities | 83.6 | 93.3 |
| Other services | 100.5 | 104.0 |
| Overall | 103.6 | 103.3 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Chicago, IL → Phoenix, AZ
Roughly even
Buying power +0.3%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax −$2,514/yr.
70 Fair offer
Phoenix, AZ → Chicago, IL
Roughly even
Buying power −0.3%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax +$2,514/yr.
67 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Chicago, IL is in the Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI pay area; Phoenix, AZ is in Phoenix-Mesa, AZ. The last column shows what a transfer from Chicago, IL to Phoenix, AZ at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Chicago, IL | Phoenix, AZ | Real change, Chicago → Phoenix |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $68,999 | $64,564 | −6.2% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $83,482 | $78,117 | −6.2% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $100,059 | $93,629 | −6.2% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $118,984 | $111,338 | −6.2% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $140,604 | $131,568 | −6.2% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Chicago, IL | Phoenix, AZ | Phoenix pay in Chicago dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $78,390 | $59,180 | $59,340 (−24.3%) |
| Software Developers | $134,380 | $131,750 | $132,106 (−1.7%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $82,360 | $80,820 | $81,038 (−1.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $100,490 | $100,830 | $101,102 (+0.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.