$100k a year, no longer in Washington
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
cheaper each month than Washington
Chicago is the easier version of your monthly budget. Lower rent, lighter monthly outlay.
a quick ledger.
$2,170/mo
8% cheaper than Washington(vs $2,352/mo)
4.95%
$296/mo less in state tax than Washington
vs 8.5% in Washington
$5,751/mo
$478 more than Washington
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$365k
42% cheaper than Washington
vs $626k in Washington
9.3M
vs 6.3M in Washington
field notes, weather & such.
153
pleasant days a year, in chicago.
Washington actually gets more: 177 pleasant days a year. Cold snaps are part of the year: 38 days below 20° here, 11 in Washington.
8.0× the events of Washington, and the calendar shows it.
70/100
20% lower than Washington
vs 87/100 in Washington
Closest outdoor draw: Indiana Dunes National Park, 27.2 mi.
100/100
2% higher than Washington
vs 98/100 in Washington
217
36% more than Washington
vs 160 nonstops in Washington
same energy as chicago, different zip code:
compare chicago with:
