

Chicago vs Riverside
$1,031/mo less in Riverside
ChicagoRiversideAbout 1,608 miles apart, a flight.
- Riverside costs you more
- Rent under 30% of pay
- 269 sunny days
Same paycheck, two cities. $1,395/mo in Riverside. $2,426/mo in Chicago. −$12,372 a year.
Chicago
$2,426
left each month
Riverside
$1,395
−$1,031 vs Chicago
Compare
Same paycheck, another city.
Next
In 2022-2023, 453 households moved Chicago → Riverside (avg AGI $117,104). 491 went the other way. The whole move →
−$1,031 / mo
See full breakdown
| Per month | Chicago | Riverside | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $8,208 | $7,348 | −$860 |
| Income and payroll tax | $2,130 | $1,832 | −$297 |
| Take-home pay | $6,079 | $5,516 | −$562 |
| Rent | $1,782 | $1,940 | +$158 |
| Getting around | $392 | $644 | +$252 |
| Groceries | $408 | $424 | +$16 |
| Healthcare | $459 | $477 | +$18 |
| Utilities | $255 | $265 | +$10 |
| Everything else | $357 | $371 | +$14 |
| Left over | $2,426 | $1,395 | −$1,031 |
Salary to match Chicago
$108,500
Gross pay in Riverside that leaves the same amount as $98,500 in Chicago.
Tax difference
+$510
A year, in state and local income tax. Effective rates: 25.9% in Chicago, 24.9% in Riverside.
More about Riverside
Chicago, IL in full
World-class city amenities at Midwest home prices, funded by 2.1% property tax.
Riverside, CA in full
Southern California's affordable option, paid for with a 33-minute commute.
The other way
Start in Riverside.
Riverside → Chicago →Questions
Is the cost of living lower in Riverside than Chicago?
For one adult in a one-bedroom, Riverside leaves about $1,031 less a month. A one-bedroom is about $1,782 in Chicago and $1,940 in Riverside.
Does Riverside have state income tax?
Riverside is in California, which taxes wage income.
What changes if you move from Chicago to Riverside?
The paycheck is taxed in California. Rent stays at the same bedroom count. What you keep is the difference.
Left over each month is take-home pay minus rent and the rest of the bills. The gap between Chicago and Riverside changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this · Leftover vs a COL index · Why a cheaper COL% can still lose leftover.
Estimate, not a quote. How we figure this.