268 metros leave you better off than Chicago

Truck driver (heavy) earning $58,000 in Chicago, IL. One adult, renting a 1-bedroom. You keep $127 a month today.

Your best overall match

Midland, TX

+$876/mo (+$10,512 a year) versus Chicago

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Every city gets measured against this one.

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Left blank, so we use the local median for this job.

Your pay moves with the local market for your job.

Rent is priced at the bedroom count you need in each metro.

0

Suggested for your household.

What matters to you?

1 means leave it out of the ranking, 5 means it decides the ranking.

5 Deal-breaker

What is left after tax, rent and the month's bills.

2 A little

Sunshine, and summers and winters that are not extreme.

2 A little

Population and density, rather than small-town scale.

Every metro on the map

Coloured by this ranking. Click a dot for the city page; right-click or long-press to compare, set home, zoom or copy a link.

MidlandAustinDavenportFargoBismarckJefferson CityAppletonAmarilloSeattleLittle Rock
Best fitMiddle thirdWeakest fitWhere you live now · $127/moDot size is population. 383 metros in the 48 states; 4 outside the frame. Best best fit: Midland, TX. Right-click or long-press for actions.

1

Midland, TX

No state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,516 and 263 sunny days; commutes average 22 minutes.

No state income tax263 sunny days22-min commute

Left over monthly

$1,003

+$876 vs today

Local pay
$59,602
Rent (1br)
$1,273/mo
Take-home
$4,161/mo
Everything else
$1,885/mo
Money left over
97
Sun and mild weather
78
Being in a big city
34
2

Austin, TX

No income tax, but property taxes are among the steepest anywhere.

No state income tax

Left over monthly

$774

+$647 vs today

Local pay
$57,448
Rent (1br)
$1,226/mo
Take-home
$4,016/mo
Everything else
$2,016/mo
Money left over
87
Sun and mild weather
66
Being in a big city
80
3

Houston, TX

The cheapest housing of any top-10 metro, paid for in property tax and humidity.

No state income tax

Left over monthly

$794

+$667 vs today

Local pay
$56,343
Rent (1br)
$1,199/mo
Take-home
$3,943/mo
Everything else
$1,950/mo
Money left over
88
Sun and mild weather
63
Being in a big city
76
4

Davenport, IA

A flat 3.8% state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $886 and 202 sunny days; commutes average 21 minutes.

21-min commute

Left over monthly

$961

+$834 vs today

Local pay
$51,648
Rent (1br)
$744/mo
Take-home
$3,511/mo
Everything else
$1,806/mo
Money left over
95
Sun and mild weather
59
Being in a big city
42
5

Fargo, ND

State income tax topping out at 2.5%, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,049 and 193 sunny days; commutes average 18 minutes.

18-min commute

Left over monthly

$1,020

+$893 vs today

Local pay
$52,310
Rent (1br)
$881/mo
Take-home
$3,672/mo
Everything else
$1,771/mo
Money left over
98
Sun and mild weather
44
Being in a big city
45
6

Cedar Rapids, IA

A flat 3.8% state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,102 and 202 sunny days; commutes average 20 minutes.

20-min commute

Left over monthly

$971

+$844 vs today

Local pay
$53,691
Rent (1br)
$926/mo
Take-home
$3,641/mo
Everything else
$1,744/mo
Money left over
96
Sun and mild weather
56
Being in a big city
41
7

Dallas, TX

No income tax, endless new construction, and a 1.5% property tax bill.

No state income tax

Left over monthly

$679

+$552 vs today

Local pay
$56,343
Rent (1br)
$1,263/mo
Take-home
$3,943/mo
Everything else
$2,001/mo
Money left over
83
Sun and mild weather
70
Being in a big city
76
8

Bismarck, ND

State income tax topping out at 2.5%, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,298 and 196 sunny days; commutes average 18 minutes.

18-min commute

Left over monthly

$1,041

+$914 vs today

Local pay
$56,122
Rent (1br)
$1,090/mo
Take-home
$3,928/mo
Everything else
$1,797/mo
Money left over
99
Sun and mild weather
47
Being in a big city
35
9

Minot, ND

State income tax topping out at 2.5%, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,132 and 202 sunny days; commutes average 20 minutes.

20-min commute

Left over monthly

$1,066

+$939 vs today

Local pay
$54,575
Rent (1br)
$951/mo
Take-home
$3,824/mo
Everything else
$1,807/mo
Money left over
100
Sun and mild weather
50
Being in a big city
26
10

Jefferson City, MO

State income tax topping out at 4.7%, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $886 and 217 sunny days; commutes average 22 minutes.

22-min commute

Left over monthly

$864

+$737 vs today

Local pay
$50,156
Rent (1br)
$744/mo
Take-home
$3,409/mo
Everything else
$1,801/mo
Money left over
91
Sun and mild weather
71
Being in a big city
33
11

Appleton, WI

State income tax topping out at 7.65%, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,099 and 195 sunny days; commutes average 21 minutes.

21-min commute

Left over monthly

$925

+$798 vs today

Local pay
$56,067
Rent (1br)
$923/mo
Take-home
$3,768/mo
Everything else
$1,920/mo
Money left over
94
Sun and mild weather
55
Being in a big city
38
12

Amarillo, TX

No state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,017 and 260 sunny days; commutes average 20 minutes.

No state income tax260 sunny days20-min commute

Left over monthly

$762

+$635 vs today

Local pay
$49,714
Rent (1br)
$854/mo
Take-home
$3,499/mo
Everything else
$1,883/mo
Money left over
87
Sun and mild weather
84
Being in a big city
37
13

Seattle, WA

No state income tax and high wages, offset by home prices and 150 sunny days.

No state income taxCar optional

Left over monthly

$693

+$566 vs today

Local pay
$66,286
Rent (1br)
$1,761/mo
Take-home
$4,585/mo
Everything else
$2,131/mo
Money left over
84
Sun and mild weather
49
Being in a big city
82
14

Dubuque, IA

A flat 3.8% state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $955 and 204 sunny days; commutes average 17 minutes.

17-min commute

Left over monthly

$915

+$788 vs today

Local pay
$51,040
Rent (1br)
$802/mo
Take-home
$3,472/mo
Everything else
$1,755/mo
Money left over
93
Sun and mild weather
58
Being in a big city
30
15

Little Rock, AR

State income tax topping out at 3.9%, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,070 and 208 sunny days; commutes average 23 minutes.

Left over monthly

$709

+$582 vs today

Local pay
$51,095
Rent (1br)
$899/mo
Take-home
$3,443/mo
Everything else
$1,835/mo
Money left over
84
Sun and mild weather
68
Being in a big city
52
16

San Antonio, TX

Among the cheapest big-city rents in the country, with the highest property tax rate here.

No state income tax

Left over monthly

$629

+$502 vs today

Local pay
$51,371
Rent (1br)
$1,052/mo
Take-home
$3,610/mo
Everything else
$1,929/mo
Money left over
81
Sun and mild weather
67
Being in a big city
64
17

Springfield, IL

A flat 4.95% state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,065 and 204 sunny days; commutes average 20 minutes.

20-min commute

Left over monthly

$787

+$660 vs today

Local pay
$54,244
Rent (1br)
$895/mo
Take-home
$3,590/mo
Everything else
$1,908/mo
Money left over
88
Sun and mild weather
64
Being in a big city
39
18

Odessa, TX

No state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,398 and 269 sunny days; commutes average 25 minutes.

No state income tax269 sunny days

Left over monthly

$769

+$642 vs today

Local pay
$54,630
Rent (1br)
$1,174/mo
Take-home
$3,828/mo
Everything else
$1,885/mo
Money left over
87
Sun and mild weather
80
Being in a big city
25
19

Des Moines, IA

Insurance-sector wages against the lowest housing costs on this list.

20-min commute

Left over monthly

$756

+$629 vs today

Local pay
$53,029
Rent (1br)
$1,005/mo
Take-home
$3,599/mo
Everything else
$1,838/mo
Money left over
86
Sun and mild weather
54
Being in a big city
52
20

Wausau, WI

State income tax topping out at 7.65%, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $926 and 190 sunny days; commutes average 19 minutes.

19-min commute

Left over monthly

$885

+$758 vs today

Local pay
$52,973
Rent (1br)
$778/mo
Take-home
$3,574/mo
Everything else
$1,911/mo
Money left over
92
Sun and mild weather
52
Being in a big city
30
Show the remaining 367 metros

Showing the top 20 of 387 by best fit for you.

Rent is Zillow's asking rent for each metro; taxes and living costs are modelled. Every figure is an estimate, not a quote. See exactly how it's calculated.