Uprootmap
Chicago vs Boulder
Chicago and Boulder
Photo: Ken Lund / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 2.0
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Boulder are under the US rate in this release, 2.2 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Chicago to Boulder
In 2022-2023, 217 households filed a move from Chicago to Boulder (about 325 people, average adjusted gross income $196,622). 128 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,782 in Chicago and $1,647 in Boulder. Chicago has a state tax on wages. Boulder has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Boulder is 100% of the national level for the same work, against 105% in Chicago.
Boulder averages 250 sunny days, with July highs around 73°F and January nights around 9°F. Chicago is 189 sunny days, 84°F in July, 20°F in January. Commutes average 23 minutes in Boulder and 33 in Chicago.
These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.
Who already made this move
In 2022-2023, 217 households moved Chicago → Boulder (about 325 people, average AGI $196,622). 128 households went the other way.
Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.
The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Chicago and Boulder changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 1,106 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $2,800–$5,200
- Container or pod
- $1,950–$3,700
- Rent a truck
- $1,100–$2,050
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Dig into Boulder
Questions
Is Boulder cheaper than Chicago after tax and rent?
Yes. Boulder leaves about $333 more a month, so the cost of living is lower there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,782 in Chicago and $1,647 in Boulder.
Does Boulder have state income tax?
Boulder is in Colorado, which taxes wage income.
Did people actually move from Chicago to Boulder?
Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.