Chicago, IL → Columbia, MO
You'd keep $128 more a month in Columbia
+$1,536 a year for the same registered nurse, the same household size, and the same number of bedrooms.
| Per month | Chicago | Columbia | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $8,208 | $6,864 | −$1,345 |
| Income and payroll tax | $2,130 | $1,582 | −$548 |
| Take-home pay | $6,079 | $5,282 | −$796 |
| Rent | $1,828 | $1,003 | −$825 |
| Getting around | $392 | $502 | +$110 |
| Groceries | $408 | $350 | −$58 |
| Healthcare | $459 | $394 | −$65 |
| Utilities | $255 | $219 | −$36 |
| Everything else | $357 | $306 | −$51 |
| Left over | $2,380 | $2,508 | +$128 |
To break even in Columbia, you'd need to earn
$80,000
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
+$1,794
A year, in state and local income tax. Effective rates: 25.9% in Chicago, 23.0% in Columbia.
More about Columbia
Chicago, IL in full
World-class city amenities at Midwest home prices, funded by 2.1% property tax.
Columbia, MO in full
State income tax topping out at 4.7%, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,194 and 217 sunny days; commutes average 20 minutes.
The reverse move
Same two cities, but starting from Columbia on Columbia wages.
Columbia → 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.