Charleston, SC → Chicago, IL
You'd keep $100 more a month in Chicago
+$1,200 a year for the same registered nurse, the same household size, and the same number of bedrooms.
| Per month | Charleston | Chicago | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $7,750 | $8,211 | +$461 |
| Income and payroll tax | $1,948 | $2,131 | +$183 |
| Take-home pay | $5,802 | $6,081 | +$278 |
| Rent | $1,593 | $1,828 | +$235 |
| Getting around | $535 | $392 | −$143 |
| Groceries | $384 | $408 | +$24 |
| Healthcare | $432 | $459 | +$27 |
| Utilities | $240 | $255 | +$15 |
| Everything else | $336 | $357 | +$21 |
| Left over | $2,282 | $2,382 | +$100 |
To break even in Chicago, you'd need to earn
$96,500
Household gross, versus $93,000 today. That's the salary that leaves you exactly as much at the end of the month as Charleston does now.
The tax difference alone
−$557
A year, in state and local income tax. Effective rates: 25.1% in Charleston, 26.0% in Chicago.
More about Chicago
Charleston, SC in full
State income tax topping out at 6.2%, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,896 and 222 sunny days; commutes average 27 minutes.
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 → Charleston →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.