Uprootmap

Dayton, OHChicago, IL

Moving to Chicago costs you $178 a month

−$2,136 a year for the same registered nurse, the same household size, and the same number of bedrooms.

Monthly and annual budget comparison between Dayton, OH and Chicago, IL
Per monthDaytonChicagoDifference
Gross pay$7,167$8,171+$1,004
Income and payroll tax$1,707$2,117+$410
Take-home pay$5,460$6,054+$594
Rent$1,028$1,828+$800
Getting around$540$392−$148
Groceries$375$408+$33
Healthcare$422$459+$37
Utilities$234$255+$21
Everything else$328$357+$29
Left over$2,533$2,355−$178

To break even in Chicago, you'd need to earn

$101,500

Household gross, versus $86,000 today. That's the salary that leaves you exactly as much at the end of the month as Dayton does now.

The tax difference alone

−$1,347

A year, in state and local income tax. Effective rates: 23.8% in Dayton, 25.9% in Chicago.

More about Chicago

Dayton, OH in full

State income tax topping out at 3.5%, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,224 and 190 sunny days; commutes average 22 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.

ChicagoDayton

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.