City vs city
Chicago vs San Diego
$100,000 in Chicago buys a lifestyle closer to $132,000 in San Diego, because San Diego's cost-of-living index is 146 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
San Diego
Climate premium is real. Rents rival Los Angeles without the same density of ultra-high salaries.
- COL index
- 146
- Typical 1-bed
- $2,450/mo
- Comfortable salary
- $124,000
- $100k take-home
- $73,957
More comparisons: vs New York Cityvs San Franciscovs San Josevs Oaklandvs Los Angelesvs San Diego