Uprootmap
South Bend vs Chicago
South Bend 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 South Bend to Chicago
In 2022-2023, 482 households filed a move from South Bend to Chicago (about 718 people, average adjusted gross income $59,498). 477 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,005 in South Bend and $1,782 in Chicago. South Bend 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 87% in South Bend.
Chicago averages 189 sunny days, with July highs around 84°F and January nights around 20°F. South Bend is 181 sunny days, 81°F in July, 25°F in January. Commutes average 33 minutes in Chicago and 22 in South Bend.
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, 482 households moved South Bend → Chicago (about 718 people, average AGI $59,498). 477 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 South Bend and Chicago changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 106 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $1,650–$3,050
- Container or pod
- $1,100–$2,050
- Rent a truck
- $400–$750
Explore more
Dig into Chicago
Questions
Is Chicago cheaper than South Bend after tax and rent?
No. Chicago leaves about $756 less a month, so the cost of living is higher there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,005 in South Bend and $1,782 in Chicago.
Does Chicago have state income tax?
Chicago is in Illinois, which taxes wage income.
Did people actually move from South Bend 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.