City Comparison · 2026
Kenosha vs Chicago
Salary, rent, taxes, and purchasing power compared
Purchasing Power
$100k in Kenosha = $141k in Chicago
Metric
Kenosha
Chicago
COL Index
✓0.98
1.38
1BR Monthly Rent
✓$1,200/mo
$2,000/mo
2BR Monthly Rent
✓$1,500/mo
$2,600/mo
State Income Tax
WI
IL
$100k Take-Home
✓$73,823
$73,786
$100k Effective Rate
✓26.18%
26.21%
$100k Savings Potential
✓$59,423
$49,786
After-Tax Income by Salary
| Gross Salary | Kenosha WI | Chicago IL |
|---|---|---|
| $60,000 | $47,455 $3,955/mo · 20.91% eff. | $47,278 $3,940/mo · 21.2% eff. |
| $100,000 | $73,823 $6,152/mo · 26.18% eff. | $73,786 $6,149/mo · 26.21% eff. |
| $150,000 | $105,715 $8,810/mo · 29.52% eff. | $105,853 $8,821/mo · 29.43% eff. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kenosha or Chicago cheaper to live in?
Kenosha has a cost-of-living index of 0.98 while Chicago is 1.38 (1.00 = US average). Kenosha is cheaper overall. 1BR rent in Kenosha is $1,200/month vs $2,000/month in Chicago.
How much more do you need to earn in Chicago vs Kenosha?
$100k in Kenosha = $141k in Chicago. Cost of living in Chicago is higher by 40.8%.
Which city has better after-tax income — Kenosha or Chicago?
On a $100,000 salary, you take home $73,823 in WI (Kenosha) and $73,786 in IL (Chicago). After accounting for rent, your annual savings potential is $59,423 in Kenosha vs $49,786 in Chicago.
More City Comparisons
California Salary GuideTexas Salary GuideKenosha vs New York City cost of livingKenosha vs Los Angeles cost of livingKenosha vs Chicago cost of livingCost of living in KenoshaCost of living in New York CityCost of living in Los AngelesSoftware Engineer salary in KenoshaRegistered Nurse salary in KenoshaWhere does $100k rank nationally?