Living Cost Compare
Chicago

Illinois

$1,490/mo est.

vs
Rochester

New York

$1,160/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,490 in Chicago, IL versus $1,160 in Rochester, NY. Overall, Rochester, NY is roughly 22% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Chicago, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $75,134 in Chicago, IL and $46,628 in Rochester, NY — about 38% higher in Chicago, IL. Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax; New York has a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax.

Chicago, IL
Rochester, NY

Rent

Studio
$1,186
$750
+37% in Chicago, IL
1 Bedroom
$1,258
$857
+32% in Chicago, IL
2 Bedroom
$1,406
$1,114
+21% in Chicago, IL
3 Bedroom
$1,554
$1,240
+20% in Chicago, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$315,200
$120,600
+62% in Chicago, IL

Income

Median Household Income
$75,134
$46,628
+38% in Chicago, IL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,720
$51,210
+6% in Chicago, IL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.7 yr
33.5 yr
+2.2 yr in Chicago, IL
Homeownership
45.5%
37.2%
+8.3 pp in Chicago, IL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
43.3%
29.9%
+13.4 pp in Chicago, IL
Avg Commute
33.5 min
18.9 min
+14.6 min in Chicago, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
539.8
690
+28% in Rochester, NY
Property Crime
3,489.9
3,533.4
+1% in Rochester, NY

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
48.2°F
+4.5°F in Chicago, IL
Annual Precipitation
38.0 in
34.3 in
+3.7 in in Chicago, IL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.29/gal
$4.04/gal
+6% in Chicago, IL

Area: Chicago vs New York.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.50
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
23.9
29.9
+25% in Rochester, NY
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.39
$22.74
+48% in Rochester, NY

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 Rochester, NY
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Chicago, IL
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.90
+2% in Rochester, NY
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.19
+4% in Rochester, NY
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in Rochester, NY

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IL / NY)
6.25%
4%
+2.3 pp in IL
Income Tax (top rate)
4.95%
10.90%
+6.0 pp in NY

Chicago vs Rochester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Chicago or Rochester?
Rochester, NY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,160 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 22% below Chicago, IL's $1,490, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Chicago than in Rochester?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $50,000 a year in Chicago versus $34,000 in Rochester.
Which has lower taxes, Chicago or Rochester?
Chicago is taxed under Illinois's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Rochester under New York's (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% 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).