Cost of Living: Chicago vs Raleigh (2026)

Real talk: Chicago rent up 5% over the past year. And more often than not, rent in #1-ranked Chicago has increased from $2,179 — make of that what you will — to $2,292/mo over the past 12 months — a 5% increase. That alone makes it worth considering. Rising costs may erode its top ranking over time. That alone makes it worth considering.

At $2,292/month for rent and a cost index of 134, Chicago is pretty much what you'd expect from a larger city in this part of the country. Income is $75,134. You get the picture.

The math checks out. And more often than not, not even close to the national average.

Now, the part that complicates the narrative: Nationally, the 288 cities in our database average a cost index of 111, rent of $1,895/month, and household income of $80,367. Take it or leave it — the data is what it is. The cities in this ranking challenge those benchmarks. Even in a down market, this kind of cost structure protects household budgets. Quietly competitive.

The way we see it, Bottom line: Chicago, IL leads this ranking for clear, data-backed reasons — but the "best" city depends on your priorities. Click into any city below to see the full detail page with 12-month trend charts, profession-specific salary data, and a breakdown of all five cost categories. It's fine. Not great, not bad. If you're seriously considering a move, use our salary calculator to model your specific income against these numbers. I'll say what the data can't: this city punches above its weight in ways that don't show up in a spreadsheet. There's a reason people who move here tend to stay. You can call it quality of life, you can call it vibes, whatever — the point is, the cost structure gives people room to actually enjoy where they live, and that's increasingly rare in this country (we double-checked this one). The math checks out.