Moving from Miami to Chicago
Your paycheck buys slightly more in Chicago than in Miami (+3.8%). Compare taxes, rent, home prices and the cost of the move.
Equal salary in Chicago: $76,600
Compare any two of 149 U.S. metro areas. All cities
To keep the same lifestyle, you need about $76,600 in Chicago, IL to match $80,000 in Miami, FL ($3,400 less), after 2026 taxes and local prices.
Single filer, W-2 salary. Florida has no state income tax on wages; Illinois does; neither city levies a resident income tax.
Miami vs Chicago: key facts
- Median rent
- $2,083 → $1,469/mo
- Median home value
- $510,600 → $339,700
- Median household income
- $80,625 → $90,770
- Price level (U.S. = 100)
- 114.2 → 103.6
- Natural hazard risk (FEMA)
- Among the highest (99.5 → 97.1 of 100)
Miami vs Chicago cost of living
The vertical line marks the U.S. average (100).
| Measure | Miami, FL | Chicago, IL |
|---|---|---|
| Overall price level (U.S. = 100) | 114.2 | 103.6 |
| Median rent | $2,083 | $1,469 |
| Income to rent affordably (30%) | $83,320 | $58,760 |
| Median home value | $510,600 | $339,700 |
| Monthly cost to own (20% down) | $3,267 | $2,453 |
| Income needed to buy | $139,997 | $105,125 |
| Median property tax | $4,260 | $6,461 |
| State income tax on $80,000 | $0 | $3,815 |
| Metro population | 6,457,988 | 9,406,924 |
Metro-area figures (Census ACS 2024, BEA 2024). Taxes use each metro's principal state.
Your yearly budget: Miami vs Chicago
On an $80,000 salary, taxes, housing, electricity, one car and health insurance for one adult come to $53,881 a year in Miami and $48,895 in Chicago if you rent: $4,986 less after the move. If you buy the median home, they come to $68,084 and $60,702 ($7,382 less).
Your yearly budget, before vs after
| Yearly cost | MiamiBefore | ChicagoAfter | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Income and payroll taxes on $80,000, single filer | $14,890 | $18,705 | +$3,815 |
| Electricity state average bill | $1,873 | $1,320 | -$553 |
| Car insurance one car, state average | $1,865 | $1,153 | -$712 |
| Gas 12,000 miles at 25 mpg | $2,061 | $2,337 | +$276 |
| Health insurance one adult, age 40, own plan before subsidies | $8,196 | $7,752 | -$444 |
| If you rent | |||
| Rent median, 12 months | $24,996 | $17,628 | -$7,368 |
| Total if you rent | $53,881 | $48,895 | -$4,986 |
| If you buy the median home (20% down) | |||
| Mortgage payment median home, 20% down, 6.95% | $32,447 | $21,587 | -$10,860 |
| Property tax median home | $4,260 | $6,461 | +$2,201 |
| Homeowners insurance state median, with a mortgage | $2,492 | $1,387 | -$1,105 |
| Total if you buy | $68,084 | $60,702 | -$7,382 |
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 $13,011 a year in Miami and $19,807 in Chicago (Child Care Aware of America, 2024 state averages).
Who moves from Miami to Chicago
About 1,596 households (2,259 people) moved from the Miami metro area to the Chicago metro area in 2022–2023, making Chicago the #15 destination for people leaving Miami among the 149 metro areas we cover. 2,294 households moved the other way. Their average adjusted gross income was $169,764.
Cost to move from Miami to Chicago
| Moving method (2–3 bedrooms) | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Rental truck (DIY) | $950–$4,180 |
| Moving container | $1,790–$4,670 |
| Full-service movers | $2,880–$12,510 |
Shipping a car instead of driving
Car shipping: $1,030–$1,510
Shipping a sedan from Miami to Chicago on an open carrier costs about $1,030–$1,510, typically 3–7 days in transit over about 1,390 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: Miami vs Chicago
FEMA's National Risk Index rates the Miami area among the highest (score 99.5) and the Chicago area among the highest (score 97.1), on a 0–100 national percentile scale. Expected yearly losses from natural hazards average $325 vs $443 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 Chicago cheaper than Miami?
Overall prices in the Chicago area are 9.3% lower than in Miami (BEA Regional Price Parities 2024). Median rent is $1,469 vs $2,083 a month, and the median home is $339,700 vs $510,600.
What salary do I need in Chicago to match $100,000 in Miami?
About $96,100, after 2026 federal taxes and local prices. Florida has no state income tax on wages; Illinois does.
How much does it cost to move from Miami to Chicago?
For a 2–3 bedroom home over about 1,390 miles: roughly $950–$4,180 with a rental truck, $1,790–$4,670 with a container, or $2,880–$12,510 with full-service movers.
How many people move from Miami to Chicago?
IRS county migration data for 2022–2023 show about 1,596 households (2,259 people) moved from the Miami metro area to the Chicago metro area, and 2,294 moved the other way.
Related
Where people from Miami move
- Miami to Orlando 9,136 households
- Miami to New York 9,096 households
- Miami to Port St. Lucie 8,105 households
- Miami to Tampa 5,597 households
- Miami to Atlanta 4,615 households
- Miami to Cape Coral 3,651 households
- Miami to Jacksonville 3,060 households
- Miami to Houston 2,623 households