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Cost of living · head to head

Phoenix, AZ is approximately 0% cheaper 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 Phoenix, AZ metropolitan areas, not city limits.

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Chicago, ILoverall index
103.6
Phoenix, AZoverall index
103.3
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 $99,710 in Phoenix, AZ, based on regional price levels.
In plain terms: Chicago, IL and Phoenix, AZ cost about the same overall, so $100,000 would go roughly as far in either place — your day-to-day spending shouldn’t feel noticeably different.
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 0%, but housing is where it really shows. Housing rents in Phoenix, AZ run 8% higher than in Chicago, IL (121.2 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, ILPhoenix, AZDifference
Overall103.6103.3-0%
Goods107.395.0-11%
Housing rents112.0121.2+8%
Utilities83.693.3+12%
Other services100.5104.0+3%

Phoenix, AZ differs from Chicago, IL the most in utilities — about 12% higher in Phoenix, AZ — while the closest is other services.

Estimated salary equivalent 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 estimated salary equivalent in Phoenix, AZ, 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 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.

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

About $99,710, based on regional price levels — a $100,000 salary in Chicago, IL has approximately the same purchasing power as $99,710 in Phoenix, AZ. This is an estimate and does not account for taxes, household size, or personal spending habits.

Is housing cheaper in Phoenix, AZ than in Chicago, IL?

Housing rents in Phoenix, AZ score 121.2 versus 112.0 in Chicago, IL — about 8% 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 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.