Living Cost Compare
Chicago

Illinois

$1,490/mo est.

vs
Salt Lake City

Utah

$1,300/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 $1,300 in Salt Lake City, UT. Overall, Salt Lake City, UT is roughly 13% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Chicago, IL, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $75,134 in Chicago, IL and $74,925 in Salt Lake City, UT. Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax; Utah has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax.

Chicago, IL
Salt Lake City, UT

Rent

Studio
$1,186
$997
+16% in Chicago, IL
1 Bedroom
$1,258
$1,166
+7% in Chicago, IL
2 Bedroom
$1,406
$1,461
+4% in Salt Lake City, UT
3 Bedroom
$1,554
$1,993
+28% in Salt Lake City, UT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$315,200
$495,700
+57% in Salt Lake City, UT

Income

Median Household Income
$75,134
$74,925
+0% in Chicago, IL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,720
$55,240
+1% in Salt Lake City, UT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.7 yr
33.0 yr
+2.7 yr in Chicago, IL
Homeownership
45.5%
46.8%
+1.3 pp in Salt Lake City, UT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
43.3%
50.9%
+7.6 pp in Salt Lake City, UT
Avg Commute
33.5 min
19.6 min
+13.9 min in Chicago, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
539.8
878.8
+63% in Salt Lake City, UT
Property Crime
3,489.9
5,257.3
+51% in Salt Lake City, UT

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
52.8°F
+0.1°F in Salt Lake City, UT
Annual Precipitation
38.0 in
16.1 in
+21.9 in in Chicago, IL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.29/gal
$4.29/gal
about equal

Area: Chicago vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.50
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
23.9
13.0
+46% in Chicago, IL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.39
$10.26
+33% in Chicago, IL

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.82
+12% in Salt Lake City, UT
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$2.04
+23% in Salt Lake City, UT
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Chicago, IL
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$7.36
+9% in Salt Lake City, UT
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.01
+4% in Chicago, IL
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in Salt Lake City, UT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IL / UT)
6.25%
6.1%
+0.2 pp in IL
Income Tax (top rate)
4.95%
4.50%
+0.5 pp in IL

Chicago vs Salt Lake City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Chicago or Salt Lake City?
Salt Lake City, UT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Chicago, IL's $1,490, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Chicago than in Salt Lake City?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $50,000 a year in Chicago versus $47,000 in Salt Lake City.
Which has lower taxes, Chicago or Salt Lake City?
Chicago is taxed under Illinois's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Salt Lake City under Utah's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% 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).