Uprootmap
Iowa City vs Chicago
Iowa City 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 Iowa City to Chicago
In 2022-2023, 325 households filed a move from Iowa City to Chicago (about 414 people, average adjusted gross income $53,705). 260 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $911 in Iowa City and $1,782 in Chicago. Iowa City 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 84% in Iowa City.
Chicago averages 189 sunny days, with July highs around 84°F and January nights around 20°F. Iowa City is 207 sunny days, 82°F in July, 19°F in January. Commutes average 33 minutes in Chicago and 20 in Iowa City.
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, 325 households moved Iowa City → Chicago (about 414 people, average AGI $53,705). 260 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 Iowa City and Chicago changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 237 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $1,800–$3,350
- Container or pod
- $1,200–$2,250
- Rent a truck
- $500–$900
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Dig into Chicago
Questions
Is Chicago cheaper than Iowa City after tax and rent?
No. Chicago leaves about $1,187 less a month, so the cost of living is higher there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $911 in Iowa City and $1,782 in Chicago.
Does Chicago have state income tax?
Chicago is in Illinois, which taxes wage income.
Did people actually move from Iowa City 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.