Moving from Chicago to Denver
Your paycheck buys about the same in Denver as in Chicago. Compare taxes, rent, home prices and the cost of the move.
Equal salary in Denver: $91,200
Compare any two of 149 U.S. metro areas. All cities
To keep the same lifestyle, you need about $91,200 in Denver, CO to match $90,000 in Chicago, IL ($1,200 more), after 2026 taxes and local prices.
Single filer, W-2 salary. Uses Illinois and Colorado state income tax; neither city levies a resident income tax.
Chicago vs Denver: key facts
- Median rent
- $1,469 → $1,943/mo
- Median home value
- $339,700 → $631,000
- Median household income
- $90,770 → $108,046
- Price level (U.S. = 100)
- 103.6 → 105.8
- Natural hazard risk (FEMA)
- Among the highest (97.1 → 90.6 of 100)
Chicago vs Denver cost of living
The vertical line marks the U.S. average (100).
| Measure | Chicago, IL | Denver, CO |
|---|---|---|
| Overall price level (U.S. = 100) | 103.6 | 105.8 |
| Median rent | $1,469 | $1,943 |
| Income to rent affordably (30%) | $58,760 | $77,720 |
| Median home value | $339,700 | $631,000 |
| Monthly cost to own (20% down) | $2,453 | $3,812 |
| Income needed to buy | $105,125 | $163,351 |
| Median property tax | $6,461 | $3,387 |
| State income tax on $90,000 | $4,310 | $3,252 |
| Metro population | 9,406,924 | 3,050,512 |
Metro-area figures (Census ACS 2024, BEA 2024). Taxes use each metro's principal state.
- Denver, CO: Denver charges employees $5.75 a month (Occupational Privilege Tax) in months they earn $500+ working in the city.
Your yearly budget: Chicago vs Denver
On a $90,000 salary, taxes, housing, electricity, one car and health insurance for one adult come to $52,355 a year in Chicago and $56,251 in Denver if you rent: $3,896 more after the move. If you buy the median home, they come to $64,162 and $78,673 ($14,511 more).
Your yearly budget, before vs after
| Yearly cost | ChicagoBefore | DenverAfter | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Income and payroll taxes on $90,000, single filer | $22,165 | $21,503 | -$662 |
| Electricity state average bill | $1,320 | $1,207 | -$113 |
| Car insurance one car, state average | $1,153 | $1,453 | +$300 |
| Gas 12,000 miles at 25 mpg | $2,337 | $2,088 | -$249 |
| Health insurance one adult, age 40, own plan before subsidies | $7,752 | $6,684 | -$1,068 |
| If you rent | |||
| Rent median, 12 months | $17,628 | $23,316 | +$5,688 |
| Total if you rent | $52,355 | $56,251 | +$3,896 |
| If you buy the median home (20% down) | |||
| Mortgage payment median home, 20% down, 6.95% | $21,587 | $40,098 | +$18,511 |
| Property tax median home | $6,461 | $3,387 | -$3,074 |
| Homeowners insurance state median, with a mortgage | $1,387 | $2,253 | +$866 |
| Total if you buy | $64,162 | $78,673 | +$14,511 |
Taxes: 2026 federal and state rules, plus the principal city's resident income tax where it has one, standard deduction. Rent, home value and property tax: Census ACS 2024 metro-area medians. Mortgage: Freddie Mac 30-year average (6.95%, week of September 17, 2026).
State figures for the principal state: EIA 2024 average residential power bill, NAIC 2023 auto insurance (average per car), Census ACS 2024 homeowners insurance (median for owners with a mortgage; premiums have risen since), AAA regular gas on September 23, 2026, and the KFF 2026 benchmark silver Marketplace premium. Job-based health coverage usually costs you less, and in 2026 incomes between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level can get a premium tax credit.
Not included: sales tax (combined state and local rates are not in our data yet), food, car payments and other spending.
Child care is not in the totals. Full-time center care for one infant averages $19,807 a year in Chicago and $20,978 in Denver (Child Care Aware of America, 2024 state averages).
Who moves from Chicago to Denver
About 2,160 households (2,817 people) moved from the Chicago metro area to the Denver metro area in 2022–2023, making Denver the #8 destination for people leaving Chicago among the 149 metro areas we cover. 1,177 households moved the other way. Their average adjusted gross income was $110,203.
Cost to move from Chicago to Denver
| Moving method (2–3 bedrooms) | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Rental truck (DIY) | $770–$3,190 |
| Moving container | $1,600–$3,940 |
| Full-service movers | $2,590–$10,390 |
Shipping a car instead of driving
Car shipping: $900–$1,340
Shipping a sedan from Chicago to Denver on an open carrier costs about $900–$1,340, typically 3–7 days in transit over about 1,060 miles.
Modeled from 32 published 2026 route prices (SGT Auto Transport 'Ship a Car to Another State' sample routes, SGT Auto Transport cost calculator sample routes) plus published Hawaii and Alaska rates. SUVs cost about 25% more and enclosed carriers about 35% more. Not a quote.
Natural hazard risk: Chicago vs Denver
FEMA's National Risk Index rates the Chicago area among the highest (score 97.1) and the Denver area among the highest (score 90.6), on a 0–100 national percentile scale. Expected yearly losses from natural hazards average $443 vs $317 per resident.
The vertical line marks the middle of U.S. counties (50).
The vertical line marks the middle of U.S. counties (50).
Frequently asked questions
Is Denver cheaper than Chicago?
Overall prices in the Denver area are 2.1% higher than in Chicago (BEA Regional Price Parities 2024). Median rent is $1,943 vs $1,469 a month, and the median home is $631,000 vs $339,700.
What salary do I need in Denver to match $100,000 in Chicago?
About $101,400, after 2026 federal taxes and local prices. Uses Illinois and Colorado state income tax.
How much does it cost to move from Chicago to Denver?
For a 2–3 bedroom home over about 1,060 miles: roughly $770–$3,190 with a rental truck, $1,600–$3,940 with a container, or $2,590–$10,390 with full-service movers.
How many people move from Chicago to Denver?
IRS county migration data for 2022–2023 show about 2,160 households (2,817 people) moved from the Chicago metro area to the Denver metro area, and 1,177 moved the other way.
Related
Where people from Chicago move
- Chicago to New York 4,600 households
- Chicago to Phoenix 3,626 households
- Chicago to Dallas 3,289 households
- Chicago to Los Angeles 3,248 households
- Chicago to Milwaukee 2,294 households
- Chicago to Miami 2,294 households
- Chicago to Indianapolis 2,181 households
- Chicago to Houston 2,107 households