Chicago vs Denver
Cost of Living (2026)

Chicago is 10% less expensive than Denver.

Enter your salary → get exact comparison

At a glance

Chicago, IL

COL index107 ✓
State income tax4.95%
Avg 1BR rent$1,650/mo ✓
Median home price$330K ✓
VS

Denver, CO

COL index118
State income tax4.55% ✓
Avg 1BR rent$1,800/mo
Median home price$545K

Cost breakdown by category

CategoryChicago indexDenver indexDifference
Housing139 ✓154+15%
Groceries101 ✓112+11%
Transportation102 ✓112+10%
Healthcare104 ✓114+10%
Utilities101 ✓110+9%

Source: C2ER Cost of Living Index 2026. Index = 100 is US average. ✓ indicates lower cost.

Salary equivalency: Chicago → Denver

What salary in Denver gives you the same purchasing power as your Chicago salary?

Salary in ChicagoEquivalent in DenverDifference
$60,000$66,000+$6,000
$80,000$88,000+$8,000
$100,000$110,000+$10,000
$130,000$142,000+$12,000
$150,000$164,000+$14,000
$200,000$219,000+$19,000

Chicago vs Denver: Full Cost of Living Comparison (2026)

When comparing the cost of living between Chicago, IL and Denver, CO, Chicago comes out significantly more affordable with a COL index of 107 versus 118 for Denver — a difference of approximately 10%.

State income tax impact

Chicago workers pay 4.95% Illinois state income tax, while Denver workers pay 4.55%.

Housing costs

The median home price in Chicago is $330,000, compared to $545,000 in Denver. Average 1-bedroom rent is $1,650/month in Chicago versus $1,800/month in Denver.

Chicago vs Houston →Chicago vs San Antonio →Chicago vs Dallas →Chicago vs Austin →Chicago vs Fort Worth →Chicago vs El Paso →