The Salary.com cost of living calculator estimate is based on data related to five general categories: housing, food, healthcare, transportation, and energy. These are the universally recognized core components of any cost of living estimate and represent those expenses that apply to everyone. Obviously, there may be other factors that could contribute to your particular cost of living situation and not everyone has the same spending habits. For example, education and/or childcare costs might not apply to everyone, but for those who have those expenses, they could be significant and should be considered. We are providing additional data around those topics that can be helpful to gauge your particular situation. The Salary.com cost of living calculator is unique in that it also incorporates current salary data for thousands of jobs specific to a chosen home or work location to provide a more refined estimate of the cost of living variations. You can see how your job and your salary will be impacted by a change of location. If you live in one location but work in another, the cost of living calculator will make those adjustments to provide an accurate estimate of the change in COL. The Salary.com cost of living calculator helps you to make living cost comparisons easily and quickly.

The Salary.com cost of living calculator estimate is based on data related to five general categories: housing, food, healthcare, transportation, and energy. These are the universally recognized core components of any cost of living estimate and represent those expenses that apply to everyone. Obviously, there may be other factors that could contribute to your particular cost of living situation and not everyone has the same spending habits. For example, education and/or childcare costs might not apply to everyone, but for those who have those expenses, they could be significant and should be considered. We are providing additional data around those topics that can be helpful to gauge your particular situation. The Salary.com cost of living calculator is unique in that it also incorporates current salary data for thousands of jobs specific to a chosen home or work location to provide a more refined estimate of the cost of living variations. You can see how your job and your salary will be impacted by a change of location. If you live in one location but work in another, the cost of living calculator will make those adjustments to provide an accurate estimate of the change in COL. The Salary.com cost of living calculator helps you to make living cost comparisons easily and quickly.

Cost of Living Comparison between Fort Smith, AR vs Chicago, IL

Moving to Chicago, IL from Fort Smith, AR with a salary of $60,000

Thinking about moving to another city? Here are two important questions and the numbers to you will need to answer those questions:

How much more or less will it cost to live in the new city?

Look at the percentage difference between the cost of living where you live now, and the cost of living in the new location.

How much more or less will pay for the same or similar job be in the new city?

Look at the percentage increase or reduction in your salary that you could expect if you were to move to that new location

Using these numbers, we calculated the net change in annual disposable income that a move to the new city will have on your wallet and lifestyle.

View Minimum Wage Values in Fort Smith and Chicago Compared with the Cost of Living

Cost of Living change

Fort Smith, AR to Chicago, IL

29.2%

$50k

$100k

Estimated Salary change

Fort Smith, AR to Chicago, IL

20.2%

$50k

$100k

Think Carefully…

Looks like this move could have a negative net change in disposable income

$-5,394.5

Explanation

The cost of living in Chicago, IL is 29.2% higher than in Fort Smith, AR. You would have to earn a salary of $77,491 to maintain your current standard of living.

Employers in Chicago, IL typically pay 20.2% more than employeers in Fort Smith, AR. The same type of job in the same type of company in Chicago, IL will typically pay $72,096.

Cost of Living at Home

Typical Salary at Work

Current Location

Fort Smith, AR Edit

New Location

Chicago, IL Edit

Percent Change

29.2%

20.2%

Current Employment Statistics in Illinois.

Employment is up 0.0% over this time last year.

Cost of Living Calculator

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Comments about the Cost of Living in Chicago, IL

I love to be able to eat at restaurants and try different foods, if I include that along with groceries in my overall cost of living, how would I do in Chicago, IL?

In Chicago, Illinois going out to eat at a restaurant and buying food is considered to be affordable. Make sure you take this into account as you plan your overall cost of living in Chicago, IL. ( 2024-11-21 salary.com )

I love to go to sports events, what does Chicago, Illinois have to offer?

If you love sports, you will love Chicago, IL! Since there are football, baseball, basketball, hockey teams, you can go to a lot of games. Keep in mind that the tickets tend to be expensive, so you need to manage your entertainment budget carefully. Sometimes you can get discount tickets on line. Some people purchase a season ticket with a group of friends and take turns going to the games. Sports tickets can increase your cost of living in Chicago, IL, but if you are a true sports fan it is worth it. In Chicago, IL, the games are usually shown on local TV and you can host a party of friends and watch the game together. ( 2024-11-21 salary.com )

What is the cost of internet and cable TV in Chicago, IL?

The average cost of internet access in the U.S. is $66.20 per month. There are many providers and various packages that are offered, many that bundle internet, cable, and phone together. Pricing for various packages can vary a lot even in the same location. You should evaluate the options based on your usage and preferences and pick the best fit for your needs. One tip to reduce this cost and your overall cost of living, is to get cable service from another source like Direct TV, Netflix, Sling, Amazon Prime or others. ( 2024-11-21 salary.com )

Are there any tips that will help make the move to Chicago, Illinois easier for my child?

Make sure your child has a favorite toy, doll, game, clothing, blanket, snacks, etc. to take with them during the transition. Once you arrive, let your child help with arranging and decorating their new room. You may be tempted to unpack everything when you arrive, but make sure you take a break from unpacking to spend time playing and relaxing with your child. Plan on packing a special bag to take with you with those items that you will need first. Towels, soap, a few basic kitchen utensils and food items like crackers, tea, juice, will make your new location functional as soon as you arrive and fell more like home. A small new toy, book, or video that you give to your child when you arrive might help them to feel happy and relaxed in the new location. ( 2024-11-21 salary.com )

I need to understand how to budget for energy, is the cost electricity going up or down in Chicago, Illinois?

The cost of electricity in Illinois has gone down by 3.011% in the past year. It is possible that electric rates may fluctuate depending on consumption rates, government regulations and even the weather. ( 2024-11-21 salary.com )

My kids are important, how much of my cost of living should I estimate I will need to spend on child care in Chicago, IL?

The estimated average annual cost for child care in Chicago, Illinois (based on state average), is $12964. This cost is ranked NO. 8 nationally. Some employers have company provided day care centers that let you bring your child to work with you and receive care on site. Some colleges and universities with Childhood Education programs also may have day care centers available at reduced costs, so you should explore those possibilities to see if you can reduce your child care expense. ( 2024-11-21 salary.com )

Should I plan on spending a lot on rent in Chicago,IL?

In Chicago,IL, the median rent for a 1 bedroom apartment is $1076, and for a 2 bedroom apartment is $1266. In general, in the past year, rental costs in Chicago have increased slightly by approximately 0.9%. Since rental expense makes up a significant part of the cost of living, you should consider this expense and how it might change when you calculate your cost of living in a new city. ( 2024-11-21 salary.com )

I need to keep my cost of living under control, is there a lot to do in Chicago, Illinois that is not very expensive?

Because University of Chicago, Northwestern University, University of Illinois at Chicago is located in Chicago, there is a large student population. This is great, even if you are not a student, since there are always lots of free or cheap events to go to and plenty of cheap places to eat. Familiarize yourself with the places where students hang out, and take advantage of discounted or bargain prices, you are sure to be able to keep your cost of living reasonable. ( 2024-11-21 salary.com )

Is there good public transportation in Chicago, Illinois?

Chicago, Illinois is considered to have a very good public transport system. Illinois is ranked NO. 4 in U.S for public transportation availability. Utilizing public transportation could reduce commuting costs in Chicago, Illinois. ( 2024-11-21 salary.com )

How difficult is it to drive in Chicago, Illinois?

If you are planning to drive to work, you will be spending a lot of time and gas to get there. Chicago, Illinois is one of the Worst cities in the United States for driving. Chicago, Illinois is ranked number 91 out of 100 major cities. Plan on spending more on gas and auto expenses if you move to Chicago, Illinois, resulting in a higher cost of living. ( 2024-11-21 salary.com )

What is the average commute time in Chicago, Illinois?

In Chicago, IL, the average commute time is about 40.99 minutes. This can vary depending on the time of day, day of week, and the weather and road conditions. If the weather is bad, commute time can double! You should factor this commuting time into your overall cost of living, since your time has value. ( 2024-11-21 salary.com )

Does Chicago, Illinois have a good climate?

Chicago, Illinois is considered to have one of the COLDEST climates in the country. On average there are 122 days each year that are below freezing. Keep in mind that a cold climate could result in increased heating expenses that will impact the cost of living. ( 2024-11-21 salary.com )

What is the cost of public transit in Chicago, Illinois?

Public transit in Chicago, IL will cost you around $100.00 per month. ( 2024-11-21 salary.com )

Cost of Living Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Cost of Living index and how is it used?

In the simplest terms, a Cost of Living index is the estimated amount that represents the cost of the basic necessities required for an individual to live. A cost of living or COL estimate may typically include estimates for housing, food, energy, medical care, transportation, taxes, and other necessities. A COL index may be used to measure what the cost difference would be for a person living in a certain location compared to another location. This cost of living comparison helps individuals make decisions about where they would like to live and what they can afford based on the costs in that location. A cost of living comparison can provide guidance about how an increase or decrease in these basic living expenses impacts necessary spending for an individual or a family. ( 2024-11-21 salary.com )

What factors are included in estimating your cost of living?

The Salary.com cost of living calculator estimate is based on data related to five general categories: housing, food, healthcare, transportation, and energy. These are the universally recognized core components of any cost of living estimate and represent those expenses that apply to everyone. Obviously, there may be other factors that could contribute to your particular cost of living situation and not everyone has the same spending habits. For example, education and/or childcare costs might not apply to everyone, but for those who have those expenses, they could be significant and should be considered when you evaluate your cost of living comparison. ( 2024-11-21 salary.com )

The Salary.com cost of living calculator is unique in that it also incorporates current salary data for thousands of jobs specific to a chosen home or work location to provide a more refined estimate of the cost of living variations. You can see how your job and your salary will be impacted by a change of location. If you live in one location but work in another, the cost of living calculator will make those adjustments to provide an accurate estimate of the change in COL. The Salary.com cost of living calculator helps you to make cost of living comparisons cost comparisons easily and quickly. ( 2024-11-21 salary.com )

See how much you can get when it is an hourly pay

Use our Salary Converter Tool, a user-friendly resource designed to see how much your salary will be if converted into hourly/weekly/biweekly/monthly/yearly pay. With just a few clicks, you can gain valuable insights into your earning potential, ensuring you make informed financial decisions.

See how much you can get when it is a yearly pay

Last Update: 2024-11-21