City vs city
Chicago vs Nashville
$100,000 in Chicago buys a lifestyle closer to $101,000 in Nashville, because Nashville's cost-of-living index is 112 versus 111.
Chicago
Big-city wages and transit without coastal housing prices. Illinois flat tax plus property taxes matter.
- COL index
- 111
- Typical 1-bed
- $1,850/mo
- Comfortable salary
- $94,000
- $100k take-home
- $74,375
Nashville
No state income tax. Music, healthcare, and inbound moves lifted rents.
- COL index
- 112
- Typical 1-bed
- $1,750/mo
- Comfortable salary
- $95,000
- $100k take-home
- $79,180
More comparisons: vs New York Cityvs San Franciscovs San Josevs Oaklandvs Los Angelesvs San Diego