Chicago, IL → Austin, TX
You'd keep $796 more a month in Austin
+$9,552 a year for the same registered nurse, the same household size, and the same number of bedrooms.
| Per month | Chicago | Austin | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $8,208 | $8,130 | −$78 |
| Income and payroll tax | $2,130 | $1,712 | −$418 |
| Take-home pay | $6,079 | $6,418 | +$340 |
| Rent | $1,828 | $1,226 | −$602 |
| Getting around | $392 | $566 | +$174 |
| Groceries | $408 | $400 | −$8 |
| Healthcare | $459 | $450 | −$9 |
| Utilities | $255 | $250 | −$5 |
| Everything else | $357 | $350 | −$7 |
| Left over | $2,380 | $3,176 | +$796 |
To break even in Austin, you'd need to earn
$84,000
Household gross, versus $98,500 today. That's the salary that leaves you exactly as much at the end of the month as Chicago does now.
The tax difference alone
+$4,738
A year, in state and local income tax. Texas has no wage income tax.
Chicago, IL in full
World-class city amenities at Midwest home prices, funded by 2.1% property tax.
Austin, TX in full
No income tax, but property taxes are among the steepest anywhere.
The reverse move
Same two cities, but starting from Austin on Austin wages.
Austin → Chicago →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.