City Comparison · 2026
Houston vs Chicago
Salary, rent, taxes, and purchasing power compared
Purchasing Power
$100k in Houston = $128k in Chicago
Metric
Houston
Chicago
COL Index
✓1.08
1.38
1BR Monthly Rent
✓$1,400/mo
$2,000/mo
2BR Monthly Rent
✓$1,780/mo
$2,600/mo
State Income Tax
TX
IL
$100k Take-Home
✓$78,736
$73,786
$100k Effective Rate
✓21.26%
26.21%
$100k Savings Potential
✓$61,936
$49,786
After-Tax Income by Salary
| Gross Salary | Houston TX | Chicago IL |
|---|---|---|
| $60,000 | $50,248 $4,187/mo · 16.25% eff. | $47,278 $3,940/mo · 21.2% eff. |
| $100,000 | $78,736 $6,561/mo · 21.26% eff. | $73,786 $6,149/mo · 26.21% eff. |
| $150,000 | $113,278 $9,440/mo · 24.48% eff. | $105,853 $8,821/mo · 29.43% eff. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Houston or Chicago cheaper to live in?
Houston has a cost-of-living index of 1.08 while Chicago is 1.38 (1.00 = US average). Houston is cheaper overall. 1BR rent in Houston is $1,400/month vs $2,000/month in Chicago.
How much more do you need to earn in Chicago vs Houston?
$100k in Houston = $128k in Chicago. Cost of living in Chicago is higher by 27.8%.
Which city has better after-tax income — Houston or Chicago?
On a $100,000 salary, you take home $78,736 in TX (Houston) and $73,786 in IL (Chicago). After accounting for rent, your annual savings potential is $61,936 in Houston vs $49,786 in Chicago.
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