Chicago, IL → Houston, TX
You'd keep $779 more a month in Houston
+$9,348 a year for the same registered nurse, the same household size, and the same number of bedrooms.
| Per month | Chicago | Houston | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $8,208 | $7,974 | −$235 |
| Income and payroll tax | $2,130 | $1,665 | −$464 |
| Take-home pay | $6,079 | $6,308 | +$230 |
| Rent | $1,828 | $1,199 | −$629 |
| Getting around | $392 | $572 | +$180 |
| Groceries | $408 | $380 | −$28 |
| Healthcare | $459 | $428 | −$31 |
| Utilities | $255 | $238 | −$17 |
| Everything else | $357 | $333 | −$24 |
| Left over | $2,380 | $3,159 | +$779 |
To break even in Houston, you'd need to earn
$82,500
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.
Houston, TX in full
The cheapest housing of any top-10 metro, paid for in property tax and humidity.
The reverse move
Same two cities, but starting from Houston on Houston wages.
Houston → 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.