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Select two U.S. metro areas to compare their Regional Price Parity (RPP) indices for goods, services, and housing, plus salary equivalents.

Dallas vs Chicago

Chicago is 0.5% more expensive than Dallas. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities, national average = 100.

Metro A
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX
103.1
Overall RPP
102.8
Goods
90.7
Services
117.9
Rents
Metro B
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
103.6
Overall RPP
107.3
Goods
83.6
Services
112.0
Rents

Category Breakdown

Category Dallas Chicago Diff (B−A)
Overall Cost 103.1 103.6 +0.5
Goods 102.8 107.3 +4.4
Services 90.7 83.6 -7.1
Rents/Housing 117.9 112.0 -5.9

Visual Comparison

Overall Cost About the same as Dallas
Dallas
103.1
Chicago
103.6
Goods Higher than Dallas
Dallas
102.8
Chicago
107.3
Services Lower than Dallas
Dallas
90.7
Chicago
83.6
Rents/Housing Lower than Dallas
Dallas
117.9
Chicago
112.0

Vertical marker = national average (100)

Salary Equivalents

What you would need to earn in Chicago to match your purchasing power in Dallas:

Salary in Dallas Equivalent in Chicago Difference
$50,000 $50,245 +$245
$75,000 $75,367 +$367
$100,000 $100,490 +$490
$150,000 $150,735 +$735

Use the salary calculator for custom amounts and reverse direction.

Metro Context

Metric Dallas Chicago
Population 7,807,555 9,359,555
Median Household Income $87,155 $88,850
Data Year 2024 2024
State TX IL

Key Differences

Overall Cost: Chicago is 0.5 points pricier than Dallas (103.1 vs 103.6).

Goods: Chicago is 4.4 points pricier than Dallas (102.8 vs 107.3).

Services: Dallas is 7.1 points cheaper than Chicago (90.7 vs 83.6).

Rents/Housing: Dallas is 5.9 points cheaper than Chicago (117.9 vs 112.0).

⇆ Reverse comparison Dallas details → Chicago details →

Also Compare Dallas With

vs New York-Newark-Jersey City vs Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim vs Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands vs Washington-Arlington-Alexandria vs Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington vs Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Chicago more expensive than Dallas? ▼
Chicago is 0.5% more expensive than Dallas. The overall cost index is 103.6 vs 103.1 (national average = 100).
What salary in Chicago is equivalent to $100K in Dallas? ▼
A $100,000 salary in Dallas has the same purchasing power as $100,490 in Chicago, based on BEA Regional Price Parity data.
How do housing costs compare between Dallas and Chicago? ▼
Housing/rents in Dallas are indexed at 117.9 while Chicago is at 112.0 (national average = 100). Dallas has higher housing costs.
Which is larger - Dallas or Chicago? ▼
Chicago is larger by population. Dallas has 7,807,555 residents vs 9,359,555 in Chicago.

Explore More Data

Salary Calculator → Cost Rankings → All Metros → Rent Data → Salary Data → Relocation Guide →

Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by Metropolitan Statistical Area Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by Metropolitan Statistical Area Index where U.S. average = 100