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Cost of living · head to head

Miami, FL is approximately 10% pricier than Chicago, IL, using Chicago, IL as the comparison base.

Based on overall price levels from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis. 100 equals the national average. Figures represent the wider Chicago, IL and Miami, FL metropolitan areas, not city limits.

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Chicago, ILoverall index
103.6
Miami, FLoverall index
114.2
Estimated salary equivalent based on regional price levels
in Chicago, IL
A salary of $100,000 in Chicago, IL has approximately the same purchasing power as $110,232 in Miami, FL, based on regional price levels.
In plain terms: Miami, FL is more expensive than Chicago, IL, so you’d need about $110,232 there to match the lifestyle $100,000 buys in Chicago, IL — same groceries, same rent level, same everyday spending. That’s ~$10,200 more to cover the higher cost of living, not a real raise.
Before tax. This estimate does not account for individual spending habits, household size, taxes, childcare, healthcare, transport choices or personal housing circumstances.

Where the difference lies

The headline gap is 10%, but housing is where it really shows. Housing rents in Miami, FL run 39% higher than in Chicago, IL (155.6 vs 112.0), while everyday goods and services sit closer together. For most people, housing rents move the most when relocating between these two metros, so weigh that gap more heavily than the overall figure.

Category comparison

CategoryChicago, ILMiami, FLDifference
Overall103.6114.2+10%
Goods107.3103.6-3%
Housing rents112.0155.6+39%
Utilities83.697.2+16%
Other services100.5109.1+9%

Miami, FL differs from Chicago, IL the most in housing rents — about 39% higher in Miami, FL — while the closest is goods.

Estimated salary equivalent in Miami, FL

$50,000 in Chicago, IL$55,116
$75,000 in Chicago, IL$82,674
$100,000 in Chicago, IL$110,232
$150,000 in Chicago, IL$165,347
$200,000 in Chicago, IL$220,463

Each row shows the estimated salary equivalent in Miami, FL, based on regional price levels, for the amount earned in Chicago, IL.

Before tax. This estimate does not account for individual spending habits, household size, taxes, childcare, healthcare, transport choices or personal housing circumstances.

Common questions

Is Miami, FL cheaper than Chicago, IL?

No — Miami, FL has an overall cost-of-living index of 114.2 versus 103.6 for Chicago, IL, making it about 10% more expensive.

What is the estimated salary equivalent for $100,000 in Chicago, IL if you moved to Miami, FL?

About $110,232, based on regional price levels — a $100,000 salary in Chicago, IL has approximately the same purchasing power as $110,232 in Miami, FL. This is an estimate and does not account for taxes, household size, or personal spending habits.

Is housing cheaper in Miami, FL than in Chicago, IL?

Housing rents in Miami, FL score 155.6 versus 112.0 in Chicago, IL — about 39% more expensive. Housing rents are often the main driver of differences in overall price levels between metro areas.

What is the cost of living difference between Chicago, IL and Miami, FL?

Overall, Miami, FL is about 10% pricier than Chicago, IL (index 114.2 vs 103.6), with housing 39% higher. Data is from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024.