Chicago vs Dallas: Cost of Living, Taxes, Laws

Chicago

Illinois state data

High tax burden · COL index 92

Wins 7 categories

Dallas

Texas state data

Moderate tax burden · COL index 97

Wins 4 categories

Data reflects Illinois vs Texas state-level figures.

Chicago sits in Illinois, which has flat 4.95% income tax, 5th highest property tax, median home $275K. Dallas sits in Texas, which has no income tax, 6th highest property tax, median home $340K. Texas costs a median household about $3,200 a year less in state and local taxes than Illinois, mostly because it has no income tax, though everyday prices run higher there (cost of living index 97 against 92). Read the full Illinois vs Texas comparison.

Illinois

Texas

Taxes

4.95%

Income Tax (top rate)

None

1.73%/yr

Property Tax Rate

1.6%/yr

8.82%

Sales Tax (avg)

8.19%

Taxes Social Security

Yes

Estate Tax

As income

Capital Gains Tax

None

Housing & Cost of Living

COL Index (100=avg)

$275K

Median Home Price

$340K

$1,400/mo

Median Rent (2BR/mo)

$1,600/mo

$2K/yr

Home Insurance (avg/yr)

$3K/yr

Crime & Safety

413

Violent Crime / 100K

447

1,666

Property Crime / 100K

2,478

Healthcare

#20 of 50

Healthcare Quality Rank

#36 of 50

77.2 yrs

Life Expectancy

76.3 yrs

7.4%

Uninsured Rate

18.4%

Yes

Medicaid Expansion

Education

#16 of 50

K-12 Quality Rank

#36 of 50

School Choice / Vouchers

Yes

Childcare

$1,650/mo

Avg Infant Care / mo

$1,050/mo

Utilities & Daily Costs

$145/mo

Avg Energy Bill / mo

$145/mo

$510/mo

Avg Groceries / mo

$480/mo

#40 of 50

Road Quality Rank

#31 of 50

Social Policy

Gun Laws Grade

D+14.0

2024 Presidential Margin

R+14.0

Category wins

Chicago

Dallas

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