City comparison
Chicago, IL vs Worcester, MA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Chicago, IL are 1.0% higher than in Worcester, MA. Someone earning $100,000 in Worcester, MA would need about $101,000 in Chicago, IL to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,581 a month in Chicago, IL and $1,599 in Worcester, MA.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $4,805 a year in IL and $4,780 in MA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +1.3% moving from Chicago, IL to Worcester, MA ($118,984 → $120,548), while prices change by −1.0%. Net effect of the transfer: +2.4% in real buying power.
- Chicago, IL: price level 103.6 (pricier)
- Worcester, MA: price level 102.5 (pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Chicago, IL | Worcester, MA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 103.6 | 102.5 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $98,965 in Worcester | $101,046 in Chicago |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,581/mo | $1,599/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,375 | $74,400 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,805 (IL) | $4,780 (MA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 26% | 26% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $54,720 | $57,830 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI | Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT |
Rent areas: Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL HUD Metro FMR Area and Worcester, MA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN and Worcester, MA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Chicago | Worcester |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 112.0 | 113.0 |
| Goods | 107.3 | 97.0 |
| Utilities | 83.6 | 155.2 |
| Other services | 100.5 | 101.2 |
| Overall | 103.6 | 102.5 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Chicago, IL → Worcester, MA
Roughly even
Buying power +1.0%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax −$25/yr.
71 Strong offer
Worcester, MA → Chicago, IL
Roughly even
Buying power −1.0%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax +$25/yr.
65 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Chicago, IL is in the Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI pay area; Worcester, MA is in Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT. The last column shows what a transfer from Chicago, IL to Worcester, MA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Chicago, IL | Worcester, MA | Real change, Chicago → Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $68,999 | $69,905 | +2.4% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $83,482 | $84,579 | +2.4% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $100,059 | $101,375 | +2.4% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $118,984 | $120,548 | +2.4% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $140,604 | $142,452 | +2.4% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Chicago, IL | Worcester, MA | Worcester pay in Chicago dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $78,390 | $82,810 | $83,676 (+6.7%) |
| Software Developers | $134,380 | $146,950 | $148,487 (+10.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $82,360 | $94,070 | $95,054 (+15.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $100,490 | $100,240 | $101,288 (+0.8%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.