$100k a year, no longer in Atlanta
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
the monthly cost of moving past Atlanta
Chicago costs meaningfully more. Whether it earns that back in the day-to-day is the actual question.
a quick ledger.
$2,170/mo
20% more expensive than Atlanta(vs $1,814/mo)
4.95%
$45/mo less in state tax than Atlanta
vs 5.49% in Atlanta
$5,751/mo
$311 less than Atlanta
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$365k
6% cheaper than Atlanta
vs $386k in Atlanta
9.3M
vs 6.3M in Atlanta
field notes, weather & such.
153
pleasant days a year, in chicago.
Atlanta has the edge here, logging 204 pleasant days a year. Cold snaps are part of the year: 38 days below 20° here, 2 in Atlanta.
A real upgrade on things to do: 5.4× Atlanta's pace.
70/100
4% higher than Atlanta
vs 67/100 in Atlanta
Closest outdoor draw: Indiana Dunes National Park, 27.2 mi.
100/100
8% higher than Atlanta
vs 93/100 in Atlanta
217
0% fewer than Atlanta
vs 217 nonstops in Atlanta
same energy as chicago, different zip code:
compare chicago with:
