Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos vs Chicago-Joliet-Naperville
Cost of Living Comparison
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos
To match your lifestyle in Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, you'd need:
$66,834
The Verdict
Cost of Living Index
Purchasing Power
Chicago-Joliet-Naperville
To match your lifestyle in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, you'd need:
$73,376
The Bottom Line
On a $70,000 salary, you would have $2,613 more per year in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos compared to Chicago-Joliet-Naperville. You'd pay $3,465 more in taxes in Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, while housing costs 4% less. The cost of living in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos is 26% above avg, while Chicago-Joliet-Naperville is 11% above avg, making Chicago-Joliet-Naperville the more affordable city overall. Your $70,000 salary in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos feels like earning $66,834 in Chicago-Joliet-Naperville once you factor in taxes, rent, and cost of living. For K-12 education, Chicago-Joliet-Naperville has a better pupil-teacher ratio (0:1 vs 0:1). College is more affordable in Chicago-Joliet-Naperville ($22,621 vs $21,482 avg in-state tuition).
K-12 Schools
Colleges & Universities
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos or Chicago-Joliet-Naperville more expensive?
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos is more expensive with a cost of living index of 126.4 vs 111.0 (national average = 100).
What salary in Chicago-Joliet-Naperville equals $70,000 in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos?
You would need to earn approximately $66,834 in Chicago-Joliet-Naperville to maintain the same purchasing power as a $70,000 salary in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, after accounting for taxes, rent, and cost of living differences.
How much is rent in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos vs Chicago-Joliet-Naperville?
Average annual rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $22,224 in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos and $21,372 in Chicago-Joliet-Naperville—housing is 4% less in Chicago-Joliet-Naperville.