Cost of living · head to head
Phoenix, AZ is 0% cheaper than Chicago, IL.
Based on overall price levels from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis. 100 equals the national average.
Chicago, ILoverall index
103.6
Phoenix, AZoverall index
103.3
Try your own salary
in Chicago, IL
To live the same in Phoenix, AZ, you’d need about $99,710.
That’s about $290 less — Phoenix, AZ is cheaper.
Where the difference lies
The headline gap is 0%, but housing is where it really shows. Housing in Phoenix, AZ runs 8% higher than in Chicago, IL (121.2 vs 112), while everyday goods and services sit closer together. For most people the rent or mortgage line moves the most when relocating between these two metros, so weigh that gap more heavily than the overall figure.
Salary you’d need in Phoenix, AZ
| $50,000 in Chicago, IL | $49,855 |
| $75,000 in Chicago, IL | $74,783 |
| $100,000 in Chicago, IL | $99,710 |
| $150,000 in Chicago, IL | $149,566 |
| $200,000 in Chicago, IL | $199,421 |
Each row shows the salary in Phoenix, AZ that buys the same standard of living as the amount earned in Chicago, IL.
Chicago, IL · housing
112
Phoenix, AZ · housing
121.2
Common questions
Is Phoenix, AZ cheaper than Chicago, IL?
Yes — Phoenix, AZ has an overall cost-of-living index of 103.3 versus 103.6 for Chicago, IL, making it about 0% cheaper.
How much do you need to earn in Phoenix, AZ to match $100,000 in Chicago, IL?
About $99,710. To keep the same standard of living, salaries scale with local prices, so a $100,000 lifestyle in Chicago, IL costs roughly $99,710 in Phoenix, AZ.
Is housing cheaper in Phoenix, AZ than in Chicago, IL?
Housing in Phoenix, AZ scores 121.2 versus 112 in Chicago, IL — about 8% more expensive. Housing is usually the biggest driver of the overall gap.
What is the cost of living difference between Chicago, IL and Phoenix, AZ?
Overall, Phoenix, AZ is about 0% cheaper than Chicago, IL (index 103.3 vs 103.6), with housing 8% higher. Data is from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024.