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 | Chicago | Kirkland | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,314/mo | $2,250/mo | 41.6% lower in A |
| Median home value | $304,500 | $937,700 | 67.5% lower in A |
| Median household income | $71,673 | $135,608 | 47.1% lower in A |
| Groceries index | 97.2 | 104.1 | 6.6% lower in A |
| Utilities index | 92.4 | 125.1 | 26.2% lower in A |
| Transportation index | 98.6 | 104.6 | 5.7% lower in A |
| Healthcare index | 97.4 | 104.1 | 6.5% lower 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 Chicago, you'd need $171,225 in Kirkland to maintain your standard of living.
Climate, safety, and demographics side by side.
Chicago, IL is about 41.6% cheaper overall than Kirkland, WA, based on our cost-of-living index. Housing costs are roughly 42% lower in Chicago than in Kirkland. If you earn $80,000 in Chicago, you'd need about $136,980 in Kirkland to keep the same standard of living.