Uprootmap
Chicago vs Ithaca
Chicago and Ithaca
Photo: Kenneth C. Zirkel / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
Why people look at Chicago to Ithaca
In 2022-2023, 45 households filed a move from Chicago to Ithaca (about 57 people, average adjusted gross income $74,667). 50 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,782 in Chicago and $1,571 in Ithaca. Chicago has a state tax on wages. Ithaca has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Ithaca is 86% of the national level for the same work, against 105% in Chicago.
Ithaca averages 155 sunny days, with July highs around 82°F and January nights around 26°F. Chicago is 189 sunny days, 84°F in July, 20°F in January. Commutes average 21 minutes in Ithaca 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, 45 households moved Chicago → Ithaca (about 57 people, average AGI $74,667). 50 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 Ithaca changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 701 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $2,300–$4,350
- Container or pod
- $1,600–$3,050
- Rent a truck
- $800–$1,500
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Dig into Ithaca
Questions
Is Ithaca cheaper than Chicago after tax and rent?
Yes. Ithaca leaves about $285 more a month, so the cost of living is lower there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,782 in Chicago and $1,571 in Ithaca.
Does Ithaca have state income tax?
Ithaca is in New York, which taxes wage income.
Did people actually move from Chicago to Ithaca?
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.