PlainCost
Home /

Compare Cost of Living

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

Phoenix vs Chicago

Chicago is 0.3% more expensive than Phoenix. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities, national average = 100.

Metro A
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ
103.3
Overall RPP
95.0
Goods
93.3
Services
121.2
Rents
Metro B
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
103.6
Overall RPP
107.3
Goods
83.6
Services
112.0
Rents

Category Breakdown

Category Phoenix Chicago Diff (B−A)
Overall Cost 103.3 103.6 +0.3
Goods 95.0 107.3 +12.2
Services 93.3 83.6 -9.8
Rents/Housing 121.2 112.0 -9.2

Visual Comparison

Overall Cost About the same as Phoenix
Phoenix
103.3
Chicago
103.6
Goods Higher than Phoenix
Phoenix
95.0
Chicago
107.3
Services Lower than Phoenix
Phoenix
93.3
Chicago
83.6
Rents/Housing Lower than Phoenix
Phoenix
121.2
Chicago
112.0

Vertical marker = national average (100)

Salary Equivalents

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

Salary in Phoenix Equivalent in Chicago Difference
$50,000 $50,135 +$135
$75,000 $75,203 +$203
$100,000 $100,270 +$270
$150,000 $150,405 +$405

Use the salary calculator for custom amounts and reverse direction.

Metro Context

Metric Phoenix Chicago
Population 4,941,206 9,359,555
Median Household Income $84,703 $88,850
Data Year 2024 2024
State AZ IL

Key Differences

Goods: Chicago is 12.2 points pricier than Phoenix (95.0 vs 107.3).

Services: Phoenix is 9.8 points cheaper than Chicago (93.3 vs 83.6).

Rents/Housing: Phoenix is 9.2 points cheaper than Chicago (121.2 vs 112.0).

⇆ Reverse comparison Phoenix details → Chicago details →

Also Compare Phoenix With

vs New York-Newark-Jersey City vs Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim vs Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington vs Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands vs Washington-Arlington-Alexandria vs Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Chicago more expensive than Phoenix? ▼
Chicago is 0.3% more expensive than Phoenix. The overall cost index is 103.6 vs 103.3 (national average = 100).
What salary in Chicago is equivalent to $100K in Phoenix? ▼
A $100,000 salary in Phoenix has the same purchasing power as $100,270 in Chicago, based on BEA Regional Price Parity data.
How do housing costs compare between Phoenix and Chicago? ▼
Housing/rents in Phoenix are indexed at 121.2 while Chicago is at 112.0 (national average = 100). Phoenix has higher housing costs.
Which is larger - Phoenix or Chicago? ▼
Chicago is larger by population. Phoenix has 4,941,206 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