Charleston, WV → Chicago, IL
You'd keep $143 more a month in Chicago
+$1,716 a year for the same registered nurse, the same household size, and the same number of bedrooms.
| Per month | Charleston | Chicago | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $6,875 | $8,203 | +$1,328 |
| Income and payroll tax | $1,601 | $2,128 | +$527 |
| Take-home pay | $5,274 | $6,075 | +$801 |
| Rent | $1,052 | $1,828 | +$776 |
| Getting around | $574 | $392 | −$182 |
| Groceries | $390 | $408 | +$18 |
| Healthcare | $439 | $459 | +$20 |
| Utilities | $244 | $255 | +$11 |
| Everything else | $342 | $357 | +$15 |
| Left over | $2,233 | $2,376 | +$143 |
To break even in Chicago, you'd need to earn
$96,000
Household gross, versus $82,500 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
−$1,597
A year, in state and local income tax. Effective rates: 23.3% in Charleston, 25.9% in Chicago.
More about Chicago
Charleston, WV in full
State income tax topping out at 4.82%, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,252 and 188 sunny days; commutes average 24 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.