Uprootmap
Chicago vs Gainesville
Chicago and Gainesville
Photo: ATLJonJon / Wikimedia, CC BY 4.0
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Gainesville are under the US rate in this release, 4.6 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Chicago to Gainesville
In 2022-2023, 27 households filed a move from Chicago to Gainesville (about 50 people, average adjusted gross income $139,852). Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,782 in Chicago and $1,318 in Gainesville. Chicago has a state tax on wages. Gainesville has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Gainesville is 88% of the national level for the same work, against 105% in Chicago.
Gainesville averages 211 sunny days, with July highs around 89°F and January nights around 36°F. Chicago is 189 sunny days, 84°F in July, 20°F in January. Commutes average 28 minutes in Gainesville 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, 27 households moved Chicago → Gainesville (about 50 people, average AGI $139,852). The reverse flow is too small for the IRS to publish.
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 Gainesville changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 670 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $2,300–$4,300
- Container or pod
- $1,600–$3,000
- Rent a truck
- $800–$1,450
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Dig into Gainesville
Questions
Is Gainesville cheaper than Chicago after tax and rent?
Yes. Gainesville leaves about $401 more a month, so the cost of living is lower there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,782 in Chicago and $1,318 in Gainesville.
Does Gainesville have state income tax?
Gainesville is in Georgia, which taxes wage income.
Did people actually move from Chicago to Gainesville?
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.