City vs city
Chicago vs Oakland
$100,000 in Chicago buys a lifestyle closer to $137,000 in Oakland, because Oakland's cost-of-living index is 152 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
Oakland
A relatively cheaper East Bay alternative to San Francisco, still well above US average costs.
- COL index
- 152
- Typical 1-bed
- $2,300/mo
- Comfortable salary
- $129,000
- $100k take-home
- $73,957
More comparisons: vs New York Cityvs San Franciscovs San Josevs Oaklandvs Los Angelesvs San Diego