New Haven, CT → Chicago, IL
You'd keep $161 more a month in Chicago
+$1,932 a year for the same registered nurse, the same household size, and the same number of bedrooms.
| Per month | New Haven | Chicago | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $8,000 | $8,203 | +$203 |
| Income and payroll tax | $2,051 | $2,128 | +$77 |
| Take-home pay | $5,949 | $6,075 | +$126 |
| Rent | $1,730 | $1,828 | +$98 |
| Getting around | $524 | $392 | −$132 |
| Groceries | $408 | $408 | $0 |
| Healthcare | $459 | $459 | $0 |
| Utilities | $255 | $255 | $0 |
| Everything else | $357 | $357 | $0 |
| Left over | $2,215 | $2,376 | +$161 |
To break even in Chicago, you'd need to earn
$95,500
Household gross, versus $96,000 today. That's the salary that leaves you exactly as much at the end of the month as New Haven does now.
The tax difference alone
−$205
A year, in state and local income tax. Effective rates: 25.6% in New Haven, 25.9% in Chicago.
More about Chicago
New Haven, CT in full
State income tax topping out at 6.99%, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $2,059 and 201 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 → New Haven →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.