Birmingham, AL → Chicago, IL
You'd keep $32 more a month in Chicago
+$384 a year for the same registered nurse, the same household size, and the same number of bedrooms.
| Per month | Birmingham | Chicago | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $7,167 | $8,179 | +$1,013 |
| Income and payroll tax | $1,840 | $2,120 | +$280 |
| Take-home pay | $5,326 | $6,060 | +$733 |
| Rent | $1,125 | $1,828 | +$703 |
| Getting around | $553 | $392 | −$161 |
| Groceries | $364 | $408 | +$44 |
| Healthcare | $410 | $459 | +$49 |
| Utilities | $228 | $255 | +$27 |
| Everything else | $319 | $357 | +$38 |
| Left over | $2,329 | $2,361 | +$32 |
To break even in Chicago, you'd need to earn
$97,500
Household gross, versus $86,000 today. That's the salary that leaves you exactly as much at the end of the month as Birmingham does now.
The tax difference alone
+$249
A year, in state and local income tax. Effective rates: 25.7% in Birmingham, 25.9% in Chicago.
Birmingham, AL in full
The lowest property tax rate in the country, on cheap houses.
Chicago, IL in full
World-class city amenities at Midwest home prices, funded by 2.1% property tax.
The reverse move
Same two cities, but starting from Chicago on Chicago wages.
Chicago → Birmingham →Rent is Zillow's asking rent for each metro; taxes and living costs are modelled. An estimate, not a quote or tax advice. How this is calculated.