on $100k a year, leaving Columbus
changea dispatch from
chicago
IL
41.88°N
87.63°W
Chicago is deep-dish for tourists, thin-crust tavern style for locals, and a hot dog that absolutely will not have ketchup on it. The L rumbles overhead, the lakefront stretches for 18 unbroken miles of beach and trail, and the architecture boat tour is the single best $50 you'll spend. Summer in Chicago might be the best summer in America. The improv comedy gene pool is unmatched.
in our guides
the verdict
more each month than Columbus ran you
Chicago costs meaningfully more. Whether it earns that back in the day-to-day is the actual question.
a quick ledger.
$2,170/mo
44% more expensive than Columbus(vs $1,511/mo)
4.95%
$80/mo more in state tax than Columbus
vs 3.99% in Columbus
$5,751/mo
$739 less than Columbus
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$365k
4% more expensive than Columbus
vs $350k in Columbus
9.3M
vs 2.2M in Columbus
field notes, weather & such.
153
pleasant days a year, in chicago.
Columbus actually gets more: 171 pleasant days a year.
A real upgrade on things to do: 11.2× Columbus's pace.
70/100
23% higher than Columbus
vs 57/100 in Columbus
Closest outdoor draw: Indiana Dunes National Park, 27.2 mi.
100/100
18% higher than Columbus
vs 85/100 in Columbus
217
578% more than Columbus
vs 32 nonstops in Columbus
cities that play in chicago's register:
compare chicago with:
