City comparison
Chicago, IL vs Trenton, NJ
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Chicago, IL (103.6) and Trenton, NJ (103.2, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Chicago, IL goes as far as $99,600 in Trenton, NJ.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,581 a month in Chicago, IL and $1,545 in Trenton, NJ.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $625 a year higher in Chicago, IL than in Trenton, NJ.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +5.4% moving from Chicago, IL to Trenton, NJ ($118,984 → $125,431), while prices change by −0.4%. Net effect of the transfer: +5.8% in real buying power.
- Chicago, IL: price level 103.6 (pricier)
- Trenton, NJ: price level 103.2 (pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Chicago, IL | Trenton, NJ | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 103.6 | 103.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,599 in Trenton | $100,402 in Chicago |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,581/mo | $1,545/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,375 | $75,000 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,805 (IL) | $4,180 (NJ) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 26% | 25% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $54,720 | $63,490 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI | New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA |
Rent areas: Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL HUD Metro FMR Area and Trenton-Princeton, NJ MSA. Metro areas: Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN and Trenton-Princeton, NJ.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Chicago | Trenton |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 112.0 | 135.1 |
| Goods | 107.3 | 99.8 |
| Utilities | 83.6 | 112.3 |
| Other services | 100.5 | 97.9 |
| Overall | 103.6 | 103.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Chicago, IL → Trenton, NJ
Roughly even
Buying power +0.4%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax −$625/yr.
70 Strong offer
Trenton, NJ → Chicago, IL
Roughly even
Buying power −0.4%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax +$625/yr.
67 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Chicago, IL is in the Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI pay area; Trenton, NJ is in New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Chicago, IL to Trenton, NJ at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Chicago, IL | Trenton, NJ | Real change, Chicago → Trenton |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $68,999 | $72,737 | +5.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $83,482 | $88,005 | +5.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $100,059 | $105,481 | +5.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $118,984 | $125,431 | +5.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $140,604 | $148,222 | +5.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Chicago, IL | Trenton, NJ | Trenton pay in Chicago dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $78,390 | $77,850 | $78,163 (−0.3%) |
| Software Developers | $134,380 | $128,770 | $129,288 (−3.8%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $82,360 | $99,550 | $99,950 (+21.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $100,490 | $99,990 | $100,392 (−0.1%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.