$100k a year, no longer in Charleston
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 Charleston
A small premium for Chicago. Worth it only if the rest of the city earns it back.
a quick ledger.
$2,170/mo
9% more expensive than Charleston(vs $1,987/mo)
4.95%
$129/mo less in state tax than Charleston
vs 6.5% in Charleston
$5,751/mo
$54 less than Charleston
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$365k
15% cheaper than Charleston
vs $432k in Charleston
9.3M
vs 849k in Charleston
field notes, weather & such.
153
pleasant days a year, in chicago.
Charleston has the edge here, logging 212 pleasant days a year. Winter shows up, though: 38 days below 20° vs Charleston's 0.
A month here packs 31.6× the events of Charleston.
70/100
4% higher than Charleston
vs 67/100 in Charleston
Closest outdoor draw: Indiana Dunes National Park, 27.2 mi.
100/100
9% higher than Charleston
vs 92/100 in Charleston
217
985% more than Charleston
vs 20 nonstops in Charleston
compare chicago with:
