City comparison
Chicago, IL vs North Port, FL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Chicago, IL are 1.2% higher than in North Port, FL. Someone earning $100,000 in North Port, FL would need about $101,200 in Chicago, IL to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,686 a month in North Port, FL versus $1,581 in Chicago, IL. On $100,000, that's 26% of take-home pay in North Port, FL and 26% in Chicago, IL.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $4,805 a year higher in Chicago, IL than in North Port, FL.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −10.5% moving from Chicago, IL to North Port, FL ($118,984 → $106,437), while prices change by −1.1%. Net effect of the transfer: −9.5% in real buying power.
- Chicago, IL: price level 103.6 (pricier)
- North Port, FL: price level 102.4 (pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Chicago, IL | North Port, FL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 103.6 | 102.4 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $98,863 in North Port | $101,150 in Chicago |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,581/mo | $1,686/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,375 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,805 (IL) | $0 (FL) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 26% | 26% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $54,720 | $47,440 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL HUD Metro FMR Area and North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL MSA. Metro areas: Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN and North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Chicago | North Port |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 112.0 | 128.0 |
| Goods | 107.3 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 83.6 | 88.2 |
| Other services | 100.5 | 98.9 |
| Overall | 103.6 | 102.4 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Chicago, IL → North Port, FL
Roughly even
Buying power +1.2%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax −$4,805/yr.
72 Strong offer
North Port, FL → Chicago, IL
Roughly even
Buying power −1.1%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax +$4,805/yr.
64 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Chicago, IL is in the Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI pay area; North Port, FL is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Chicago, IL to North Port, FL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Chicago, IL | North Port, FL | Real change, Chicago → North Port |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $68,999 | $61,722 | −9.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $83,482 | $74,678 | −9.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $100,059 | $89,508 | −9.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $118,984 | $106,437 | −9.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $140,604 | $125,776 | −9.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Chicago, IL | North Port, FL | North Port pay in Chicago dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $78,390 | $62,370 | $63,087 (−19.5%) |
| Software Developers | $134,380 | $131,890 | $133,407 (−0.7%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $82,360 | $81,090 | $82,023 (−0.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $100,490 | $86,130 | $87,121 (−13.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.