Chicago-Joliet-Naperville vs Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater

Cost of Living Comparison

Chicago-Joliet-Naperville

Gross Salary $70,000
Tax -$10,706
Rent (2BR) -$21,372
Net Income $37,922

To match your lifestyle in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, you'd need:

$74,026

The Verdict

Cost of Living Index

Chicago-Joliet-Naperville 111.0
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater 123.5
Cheaper Avg (100) Pricier

Purchasing Power

Chicago-Joliet-Naperville $34,163
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater $31,619

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater

Gross Salary $70,000
Tax -$7,241
Rent (2BR) -$23,724
Net Income $39,035

To match your lifestyle in Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, you'd need:

$66,134

The Bottom Line

On a $70,000 salary, you would have $1,113 more per year in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater compared to Chicago-Joliet-Naperville. You'd pay $3,465 less in taxes in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, while housing costs 11% more. The cost of living in Chicago-Joliet-Naperville is 11% above avg, while Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater is 23% above avg, making Chicago-Joliet-Naperville the more affordable city overall. Your $70,000 salary in Chicago-Joliet-Naperville feels like earning $74,026 in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater once you factor in taxes, rent, and cost of living. For K-12 education, Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater has a better pupil-teacher ratio (0:1 vs 0:1). College is more affordable in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater ($21,482 vs $15,250 avg in-state tuition).

K-12 Schools

Chicago-Joliet-Naperville
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater
Schools
2,644
589
Enrollment
1,520,725
415,023
Pupil:Teacher
0:1
0:1
Charter %
5.6%
15.1%
Title I %
0%
0%

Colleges & Universities

Chicago-Joliet-Naperville
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater
Institutions
170
41
In-State Tuition
$21,482
$15,250
Out-of-State
$22,727
$16,986
Grad Rate
55.4%
60.2%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Chicago-Joliet-Naperville or Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater more expensive?

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater is more expensive with a cost of living index of 123.5 vs 111.0 (national average = 100).

What salary in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater equals $70,000 in Chicago-Joliet-Naperville?

You would need to earn approximately $74,026 in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater to maintain the same purchasing power as a $70,000 salary in Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, after accounting for taxes, rent, and cost of living differences.

How much is rent in Chicago-Joliet-Naperville vs Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater?

Average annual rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $21,372 in Chicago-Joliet-Naperville and $23,724 in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater—housing is 11% more in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater.