Living Cost Compare
Chicago

Illinois

$1,470/mo est.

vs
Hartford

Connecticut

$1,300/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,470 in Chicago, IL versus $1,300 in Hartford, CT. Overall, Hartford, CT is roughly 12% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Chicago, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $75,134 in Chicago, IL and $45,300 in Hartford, CT — about 40% higher in Chicago, IL. Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax; Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax.

Chicago, IL
Hartford, CT

Rent

Studio
$1,186
$973
+18% in Chicago, IL
1 Bedroom
$1,258
$1,042
+17% in Chicago, IL
2 Bedroom
$1,406
$1,296
+8% in Chicago, IL
3 Bedroom
$1,554
$1,433
+8% in Chicago, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$315,200
$217,200
+31% in Chicago, IL

Income

Median Household Income
$75,134
$45,300
+40% in Chicago, IL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,720
$59,940
+10% in Hartford, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.7 yr
33.4 yr
+2.3 yr in Chicago, IL
Homeownership
45.5%
25.7%
+19.8 pp in Chicago, IL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
43.3%
18.3%
+25.0 pp in Chicago, IL
Avg Commute
33.5 min
22.8 min
+10.7 min in Chicago, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
539.8
527.5
+2% in Chicago, IL
Property Crime
3,489.9
2,949.2
+15% in Chicago, IL

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
52.7°F
51.2°F
+1.5°F in Chicago, IL
Annual Precipitation
38.0 in
43.6 in
+5.6 in in Hartford, CT

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.24/gal
$3.94/gal
+7% in Chicago, IL

Area: Chicago vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.50
—

Adult base one-way fare — CTA vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.9
24.3
+22% in Hartford, CT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$19.71
$23.33
+18% in Hartford, CT

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.92
+16% in Hartford, CT
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Chicago, IL
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.90
+2% in Hartford, CT
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.19
+4% in Hartford, CT
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in Hartford, CT

Average prices — Midwest vs Northeast (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IL / CT)
6.25%
6.35%
+0.1 pp in CT
Income Tax (top rate)
4.95%
6.99%
+2.0 pp in CT

Chicago vs Hartford — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Chicago or Hartford?
Hartford, CT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below Chicago, IL's $1,470, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Chicago than in Hartford?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $50,000 a year in Chicago versus $42,000 in Hartford.
Which has lower taxes, Chicago or Hartford?
Chicago is taxed under Illinois's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Hartford under Connecticut's (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).