Uprootmap
Chicago vs Cincinnati
Chicago and Cincinnati
Photo: Ynsalh / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Cincinnati are close to the US rate in this release, 6.3 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Chicago to Cincinnati
In 2022-2023, 450 households filed a move from Chicago to Cincinnati (about 631 people, average adjusted gross income $106,400). 735 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,782 in Chicago and $1,168 in Cincinnati. Chicago has a state tax on wages. Cincinnati has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Cincinnati is 98% of the national level for the same work, against 105% in Chicago.
Cincinnati averages 201 sunny days, with July highs around 86°F and January nights around 29°F. Chicago is 189 sunny days, 84°F in July, 20°F in January. Commutes average 25 minutes in Cincinnati 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, 450 households moved Chicago → Cincinnati (about 631 people, average AGI $106,400). 735 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 Cincinnati changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 308 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $1,850–$3,500
- Container or pod
- $1,250–$2,400
- Rent a truck
- $550–$1,000
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Dig into Cincinnati
Questions
Is Cincinnati cheaper than Chicago after tax and rent?
Yes. Cincinnati leaves about $664 more a month, so the cost of living is lower there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,782 in Chicago and $1,168 in Cincinnati.
Does Cincinnati have state income tax?
Cincinnati is in Ohio, which taxes wage income, plus a local wage tax of 2.00%.
Did people actually move from Chicago to Cincinnati?
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.