Uprootmap
Columbus vs Chicago
Columbus and Chicago
Photo: Diego Delso / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Chicago are above the US rate in this release, 11.2 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Columbus to Chicago
In 2022-2023, 35 households filed a move from Columbus to Chicago (about 50 people, average adjusted gross income $65,171). Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,084 in Columbus and $1,782 in Chicago. Columbus has a state tax on wages. Chicago has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Chicago is 105% of the national level for the same work, against 98% in Columbus.
Chicago averages 189 sunny days, with July highs around 84°F and January nights around 20°F. Columbus is 198 sunny days, 85°F in July, 28°F in January. Commutes average 33 minutes in Chicago and 21 in Columbus.
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, 35 households moved Columbus → Chicago (about 50 people, average AGI $65,171). 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 Columbus and Chicago changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 245 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $1,800–$3,350
- Container or pod
- $1,200–$2,300
- Rent a truck
- $500–$900
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Dig into Chicago
Questions
Is Chicago cheaper than Columbus after tax and rent?
No. Chicago leaves about $670 less a month, so the cost of living is higher there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,084 in Columbus and $1,782 in Chicago.
Does Chicago have state income tax?
Chicago is in Illinois, which taxes wage income.
Did people actually move from Columbus to Chicago?
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.