142 metros leave you better off than Chicago

Registered nurse · $98,500 · Chicago, IL. One adult, renting a 1-bedroom. $2,426/mo left in Chicago.

Data updated Oct 11, 2026 · next update Nov 13, 2026

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Same paycheck.

Uprootmap

Left each month

Registered nurse

$3,494/mo

Midland after tax and rent

$98,500 local · One adult, renting a 1-bedroom

1. Midland$3,494
2. Seattle$3,409
3. Bismarck$3,353

Where the paycheck goes furthest

Quintin Soloviev. CC BY 4.0. Photo source · License
Midland
$3,494/mo
+$1,068 vs Chicago
C. P. Johnston Co., Seattle, Washington. Public domain. Photo source · License
Seattle
$3,409/mo
+$983 vs Chicago
Bobak Ha'Eri. CC BY 3.0. Photo source · License
Bismarck
$3,353/mo
+$927 vs Chicago

Best match

Seattle, WA

+$983/mo (+$11,796 a year) versus Chicago

Chicago vs Seattle

Household

Sort byMost money left over Mildest climate Cheapest rent Sunniest Best fit for you

Metros ranked for this household
#	Metro	Left over	Vs home	Rent	Take-home
1	Midland, TX	$3,494	+$1,068	$1,254	$6,633
2	Seattle, WA	$3,409	+$983	$1,758	$7,298
3	Bismarck, ND	$3,353	+$927	$1,084	$6,234
4	Minot, ND	$3,267	+$841	$1,010	$6,084
5	Fargo, ND	$3,209	+$783	$885	$5,865
6	Lexington Park, MD	$3,203	+$777	$1,593	$6,818
7	Austin, TX	$3,181	+$755	$1,221	$6,418
8	Houston, TX	$3,170	+$744	$1,188	$6,308
9	Cedar Rapids, IA	$3,154	+$728	$904	$5,802
10	Appleton, WI	$3,116	+$690	$916	$5,952
11	Odessa, TX	$3,075	+$649	$1,178	$6,138
12	Davenport, IA	$3,063	+$637	$740	$5,609
13	Cheyenne, WY	$3,057	+$631	$1,021	$6,088
14	Dallas, TX	$3,049	+$623	$1,258	$6,308
15	Rochester, MN	$3,020	+$594	$1,330	$6,087
16	Wausau, WI	$3,008	+$582	$748	$5,667
17	Dubuque, IA	$2,991	+$565	$806	$5,552
18	Sioux Falls, SD	$2,973	+$547	$982	$5,813
19	Springfield, IL	$2,919	+$493	$904	$5,731
20	Washington, DC	$2,913	+$487	$1,916	$6,931

Top 20 of 387 · Most money left over

Map

Less leftMore left

State color is what is left after tax and rent. Blue keeps more. Yellow keeps less.

Most left overLeast left overHome$2,426/moSelectedDot size is population. 383 metros in the 48 states; 4 outside the frame. Best leftover: Midland, TX. Right-click or long-press for actions.

City by city

Midland, TX

No state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,493 and 263 sunny days; commutes average 22 minutes.

No state income tax263 sunny days22-min commute

Left over monthly

$3,494

+$1,068 vs today

Local pay: $101,220
Rent (1br): $1,254/mo
Take-home: $6,633/mo
Everything else: $1,885/mo

Money left over: 100
Sun and mild weather: 78
Being in a big city: 34

Full breakdown Compare to home

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

$3,409

+$983 vs today

Local pay: $112,571
Rent (1br): $1,758/mo
Take-home: $7,298/mo
Everything else: $2,131/mo

Money left over: 97
Sun and mild weather: 49
Being in a big city: 82

Full breakdown Compare to home

Bismarck, ND

State income tax topping out at 2.5%, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,290 and 196 sunny days; commutes average 18 minutes.

18-min commute

Left over monthly

$3,353

+$927 vs today

Local pay: $95,310
Rent (1br): $1,084/mo
Take-home: $6,234/mo
Everything else: $1,797/mo

Money left over: 95
Sun and mild weather: 47
Being in a big city: 35

Full breakdown Compare to home

Minot, ND

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

20-min commute

Left over monthly

$3,267

+$841 vs today

Local pay: $92,684
Rent (1br): $1,010/mo
Take-home: $6,084/mo
Everything else: $1,807/mo

Money left over: 92
Sun and mild weather: 50
Being in a big city: 26

Full breakdown Compare to home

Fargo, ND

State income tax topping out at 2.5%, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,054 and 193 sunny days; commutes average 18 minutes.

18-min commute

Left over monthly

$3,209

+$783 vs today

Local pay: $88,838
Rent (1br): $885/mo
Take-home: $5,865/mo
Everything else: $1,771/mo

Money left over: 90
Sun and mild weather: 44
Being in a big city: 45

Full breakdown Compare to home

Lexington Park, MD

State income tax topping out at 5.75%, a median 2-bedroom estimated asking rent of $1,896 and 216 sunny days; commutes average 35 minutes.

Left over monthly

$3,203

+$777 vs today

Local pay: $117,074
Rent (1br): $1,593/mo
Take-home: $6,818/mo
Everything else: $2,022/mo

Money left over: 89
Sun and mild weather: 71
Being in a big city: 39

Full breakdown Compare to home

Austin, TX

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

No state income tax

Left over monthly

$3,181

+$755 vs today

Local pay: $97,562
Rent (1br): $1,221/mo
Take-home: $6,418/mo
Everything else: $2,016/mo

Money left over: 88
Sun and mild weather: 66
Being in a big city: 80

Full breakdown Compare to home

Houston, TX

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

No state income tax

Left over monthly

$3,170

+$744 vs today

Local pay: $95,686
Rent (1br): $1,188/mo
Take-home: $6,308/mo
Everything else: $1,950/mo

Money left over: 88
Sun and mild weather: 63
Being in a big city: 76

Full breakdown Compare to home

Cedar Rapids, IA

A flat 3.8% state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,076 and 202 sunny days; commutes average 20 minutes.

20-min commute

Left over monthly

$3,154

+$728 vs today

Local pay: $91,183
Rent (1br): $904/mo
Take-home: $5,802/mo
Everything else: $1,744/mo

Money left over: 88
Sun and mild weather: 56
Being in a big city: 41

Full breakdown Compare to home

Appleton, WI

State income tax topping out at 7.65%, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,090 and 195 sunny days; commutes average 21 minutes.

21-min commute

Left over monthly

$3,116

+$690 vs today

Local pay: $95,217
Rent (1br): $916/mo
Take-home: $5,952/mo
Everything else: $1,920/mo

Money left over: 86
Sun and mild weather: 55
Being in a big city: 38

Full breakdown Compare to home

Odessa, TX

No state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,402 and 269 sunny days; commutes average 25 minutes.

No state income tax269 sunny days

Left over monthly

$3,075

+$649 vs today

Local pay: $92,778
Rent (1br): $1,178/mo
Take-home: $6,138/mo
Everything else: $1,885/mo

Money left over: 85
Sun and mild weather: 80
Being in a big city: 25

Full breakdown Compare to home

Davenport, IA

A flat 3.8% state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $881 and 202 sunny days; commutes average 21 minutes.

21-min commute

Left over monthly

$3,063

+$637 vs today

Local pay: $87,712
Rent (1br): $740/mo
Take-home: $5,609/mo
Everything else: $1,806/mo

Money left over: 84
Sun and mild weather: 59
Being in a big city: 42

Full breakdown Compare to home

Cheyenne, WY

No state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,216 and 253 sunny days; commutes average 18 minutes.

No state income tax18-min commute

Left over monthly

$3,057

+$631 vs today

Local pay: $91,933
Rent (1br): $1,021/mo
Take-home: $6,088/mo
Everything else: $2,010/mo

Money left over: 84
Sun and mild weather: 69
Being in a big city: 30

Full breakdown Compare to home

Dallas, TX

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

No state income tax

Left over monthly

$3,049

+$623 vs today

Local pay: $95,686
Rent (1br): $1,258/mo
Take-home: $6,308/mo
Everything else: $2,001/mo

Money left over: 84
Sun and mild weather: 70
Being in a big city: 76

Full breakdown Compare to home

Rochester, MN

State income tax topping out at 9.85%, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,583 and 195 sunny days; commutes average 21 minutes.

21-min commute

Left over monthly

$3,020

+$594 vs today

Local pay: $99,438
Rent (1br): $1,330/mo
Take-home: $6,087/mo
Everything else: $1,737/mo

Money left over: 83
Sun and mild weather: 51
Being in a big city: 45

Full breakdown Compare to home

Wausau, WI

State income tax topping out at 7.65%, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $890 and 190 sunny days; commutes average 19 minutes.

19-min commute

Left over monthly

$3,008

+$582 vs today

Local pay: $89,963
Rent (1br): $748/mo
Take-home: $5,667/mo
Everything else: $1,911/mo

Money left over: 82
Sun and mild weather: 52
Being in a big city: 30

Full breakdown Compare to home

Dubuque, IA

A flat 3.8% state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $959 and 204 sunny days; commutes average 17 minutes.

17-min commute

Left over monthly

$2,991

+$565 vs today

Local pay: $86,680
Rent (1br): $806/mo
Take-home: $5,552/mo
Everything else: $1,755/mo

Money left over: 82
Sun and mild weather: 58
Being in a big city: 30

Full breakdown Compare to home

Sioux Falls, SD

No income tax, an 18-minute commute, and nothing to do in February.

No state income tax18-min commute

Left over monthly

$2,973

+$547 vs today

Local pay: $87,243
Rent (1br): $982/mo
Take-home: $5,813/mo
Everything else: $1,858/mo

Money left over: 81
Sun and mild weather: 51
Being in a big city: 44

Full breakdown Compare to home

Springfield, IL

A flat 4.95% state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,076 and 204 sunny days; commutes average 20 minutes.

20-min commute

Left over monthly

$2,919

+$493 vs today

Local pay: $92,121
Rent (1br): $904/mo
Take-home: $5,731/mo
Everything else: $1,908/mo

Money left over: 79
Sun and mild weather: 64
Being in a big city: 39

Full breakdown Compare to home

Washington, DC

Recession-resistant government and consulting pay, humid summers, real transit.

Car optional

Left over monthly

$2,913

+$487 vs today

Local pay: $116,324
Rent (1br): $1,916/mo
Take-home: $6,931/mo
Everything else: $2,102/mo

Money left over: 79
Sun and mild weather: 67
Being in a big city: 86

Full breakdown Compare to home

Show the remaining 367 metros

Estimates, not quotes. How we figure this · Best leftover metros