City comparison
Cost indices by category, with the US city average (100) marked.
Index: 100 = US city average. Lower is more affordable.
Side-by-side costs, salaries, and sub-category indices.
| Metric | Arlington | Chicago | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,902/mo | $1,314/mo | 44.7% higher in A |
| Median home value | $839,200 | $304,500 | 175.6% higher in A |
| Median household income | $136,312 | $71,673 | 90.2% higher in A |
| Groceries index | 100.0 | 104.3 | 4.0% lower in A |
| Utilities index | 133.9 | 86.2 | 55.4% higher in A |
| Transportation index | 101.3 | 99.9 | 1.4% higher in A |
| Healthcare index | 103.9 | 99.6 | 4.4% higher in A |
How much you'd need to earn in the other city to keep the same standard of living.
If you earn $100,000 in Arlington, you'd need $83,123 in Chicago to maintain your standard of living.
Climate, safety, and demographics side by side.
Chicago, IL is about 16.9% cheaper overall than Arlington, MA, based on our cost-of-living index. Housing costs are roughly 26% lower in Chicago than in Arlington. If you earn $80,000 in Arlington, you'd need about $66,498 in Chicago to keep the same standard of living.