Chicago, IL

Cost of Living in Chicago, IL (2026): Rent, Utilities & Take-Home

$3,653/mo in Chicago. $2,426 left each month. Prices near the US average.

Rank metros from ChicagoHow we figure this

Monthly costs

Take-home $6,079/mo.

Taxes$2,130
Rent$1,782
Other living costs$1,871
Left over$2,426

Pay and tax, per year

Gross household pay: $98,500
Federal income tax: −$13,284
Social Security and Medicare: −$7,535
State income tax (IL): −$4,738
Take-home pay: $72,942
Effective tax rate: 25.9%

Living costs, per month

Rent, 1br: $1,782
Groceries: $408
Getting around: $392
Healthcare: $459
Utilities and internet: $255
Everything else: $357
Total spending: $3,653

Left over each month

$8,208 gross, minus $2,130 in tax and $3,653 in living costs.

$2,426

Average electric bill in Illinois

About $159 a month for a household using 900 kWh. That is the EIA residential price for Illinois in 2025, 17.67¢ per kWh. It is a state average, not a Chicago utility bill, and the utilities line in the monthly costs above already includes a modelled power cost.

Cost of Living in Chicago, IL (2026): Rent, Utilities & Take-Home

Monthly costs

Pay and tax, per year

Living costs, per month

Average electric bill in Illinois

Moving from Chicago

Take-home by job in Chicago

Other Illinois metros

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