same $100k income, fresh start from Des Moines
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 expensive each month than Des Moines
Chicago doesn't pretend to be affordable. Move here for what Chicago is, not for what it leaves on your monthly ledger.
a quick ledger.
$2,170/mo
71% more expensive than Des Moines(vs $1,268/mo)
4.95%
$87/mo less in state tax than Des Moines
vs 6% in Des Moines
$5,751/mo
$814 less than Des Moines
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$365k
22% more expensive than Des Moines
vs $300k in Des Moines
9.3M
vs 737k in Des Moines
field notes, weather & such.
153
pleasant days a year, in chicago.
Des Moines barely cracks 151 pleasant ones.
A real upgrade on things to do: 28.2× Des Moines's pace.
70/100
27% higher than Des Moines
vs 55/100 in Des Moines
Closest outdoor draw: Indiana Dunes National Park, 27.2 mi.
100/100
28% higher than Des Moines
vs 78/100 in Des Moines
217
1176% more than Des Moines
vs 17 nonstops in Des Moines
same energy as chicago, different zip code:
compare chicago with:
