City comparison
Baltimore, MD vs Chicago, IL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Baltimore, MD (104.5) and Chicago, IL (103.6, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Baltimore, MD goes as far as $99,100 in Chicago, IL.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,511 a month in Baltimore, MD and $1,581 in Chicago, IL.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $419 a year higher in Chicago, IL than in Baltimore, MD.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −2.3% moving from Baltimore, MD to Chicago, IL ($121,785 → $118,984), while prices change by −0.9%. Net effect of the transfer: −1.5% in real buying power.
- Baltimore, MD: price level 104.5 (pricier)
- Chicago, IL: price level 103.6 (pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Baltimore, MD | Chicago, IL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 104.5 | 103.6 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,146 in Chicago | $100,861 in Baltimore |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,511/mo | $1,581/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,794 | $74,375 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,386 (MD) | $4,805 (IL) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 26% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $59,070 | $54,720 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA | Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI |
Rent areas: Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD MSA and Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD and Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Baltimore | Chicago |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 118.2 | 112.0 |
| Goods | 102.4 | 107.3 |
| Utilities | 110.2 | 83.6 |
| Other services | 101.5 | 100.5 |
| Overall | 104.5 | 103.6 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Baltimore, MD → Chicago, IL
Roughly even
Buying power +0.9%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax +$419/yr.
71 Strong offer
Chicago, IL → Baltimore, MD
Roughly even
Buying power −0.9%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax −$419/yr.
66 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Baltimore, MD is in the Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA pay area; Chicago, IL is in Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI. The last column shows what a transfer from Baltimore, MD to Chicago, IL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Baltimore, MD | Chicago, IL | Real change, Baltimore → Chicago |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $70,623 | $68,999 | −1.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $85,447 | $83,482 | −1.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $102,415 | $100,059 | −1.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $121,785 | $118,984 | −1.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $143,913 | $140,604 | −1.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Baltimore, MD | Chicago, IL | Chicago pay in Baltimore dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $76,400 | $78,390 | $79,065 (+3.5%) |
| Software Developers | $138,900 | $134,380 | $135,537 (−2.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $85,160 | $82,360 | $83,069 (−2.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $99,550 | $100,490 | $101,355 (+1.8%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.