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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
This changes the calculus for anyone considering a move: Chicago rent up 5% over the past year. And roughly speaking, rent in #1-ranked Chicago has increased from $2,179 — we had to double-check this one — to $2,292/mo over the past 12 months — a 5% increase. Rising costs may erode its top ranking …
This changes the calculus for anyone considering a move: Chicago rent up 5% over the past year. And roughly speaking, rent in #1-ranked Chicago has increased from $2,179 — we had to double-check this one — to $2,292/mo over the past 12 months — a 5% increase. Rising costs may erode its top ranking over time.
Nobody expects rock-bottom prices here — but that doesn't mean all cities are equally expensive. Chicago (index 134, rent $2,292/mo) carves out real savings within a high-cost market. We analyzed 2 cities to find where your money goes furthest in 2026.
What does daily life actually cost in Chicago? Start with the 37% rent-to-income ratio — stretched, especially for single earners. On the category level, Healthcare (index 107) is where the real savings show up, while Housing (index 134) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $75,134 and homes at $312,457 round out a profile that ranks #1 for clear reasons.
Stepping back, Nationally, the 288 cities in our database average a cost index of 111, rent of $1,895/month, and household income of $80,367. The cities in this ranking challenge those benchmarks. At this level, the city practically pays for your move.
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. If you're seriously considering a move, use our salary calculator to model your specific income against these numbers.
#1 Ranked: Chicago, IL — cost index 134, rent $2,292/mo, income $75,134
Chicago rent up 5% over the past year
1 of 2 cities come in below the national cost-of-living average of 111
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
| Rank | City | Cost Index | Median Rent | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ChicagoIL | 134 | $2,292 | Details |
| 2 | San AntonioTX | 79 | $1,361 | Details |
2,664,452 residents · Illinois
Look, a closer look at Chicago: the cost index of 134 breaks down to a Healthcare index of 107 (strongest category) and a Housing index of 134 (weakest). And in most cases, median rent is $2,292/month — 21% above the national median — while household income sits at $75,134, meaning locals spend about 37% of income on rent. That exceeds the recommended 30% threshold — affordability here depends on earning above the median.
1,495,295 residents · Texas
San Antonio is one of the cheaper options here. Rent is $1,361/month, which is lower than most cities in this ranking. The cost index is 79. Income sits at $62,917. You get the picture.
Our cost of living index uses real Zillow rent data as the foundation, indexed to 100 (national median). Sub-categories (housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare) are derived from the overall index with regional adjustments. Data is updated monthly.
Chicago (ranked #1) has a cost index of 134 and rent of $2,292/mo, while San Antonio (ranked #2) has a cost index of 79 and rent of $1,361/mo — a 55-point difference in cost of living.
City data is refreshed monthly from Census Bureau population estimates, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary data, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Last updated: 2026.
The median 1-bedroom rent in Chicago is $2,292/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $397 above the national median of $1,895/month.
The median home price in Chicago is $312,457, which is 4.2× the local median income. It's on the edge of affordability for median-income households. The national median home price is $467,370.
This ranking was generated using data current as of early 2026. Population and income data comes from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year estimates). Rent and home price data is from Zillow's monthly releases. Tax rates are from the Tax Foundation's 2025 edition. Rankings are refreshed monthly.