01 · the cities
New York
New York is the city that refuses to take a nap. Five boroughs of bodegas, bagels, late-night dollar slices, and entire neighborhoods that switch languages every six blocks. The subway is a 472-station miracle that runs all night, and Central Park is the green lung that keeps Manhattan sane. You will spend more than you planned and love every minute of it.
full dispatch→Chicago
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.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$3,329/mo
$2,170/mo
$1,159/mo less than New York (53%)
Median home price
Median home price
$739k
$365k
$375k less than New York
State income tax
State income tax
10.7%
5.0%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,110/mo
$5,751/mo
Chicago has $1,641/mo more gross after rent at $100k
Gross left after rent reflects state income tax but not federal, based on $100k salary. Enter your salary to find your ideal city.
03 · the weather
Pleasant days/yr
Pleasant days/yr
171 days
153 days
18 fewer than New York
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
1 days
1 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
19 days
38 days
days below 20°F per year
Chicago drops below 20°F on 19 more days per year than New York.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
78 / 100
70 / 100
8.0 pts behind New York
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
215 routes
217 routes
Metro size
Metro size
19.5M metro
9.3M metro
New York has 3.0x more events per month than Chicago.
the verdict
3
New York
categories won
4
Chicago
categories won
Chicago wins on money. New York has the edge on weather and lifestyle.
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