← City Comparisons

New York City

New York state data

Very High tax burden · COL index 139

Wins 6 categories

VS

Chicago

Illinois state data

High tax burden · COL index 92

Wins 6 categories

Data reflects New York vs Illinois state-level figures. City-specific data coming soon.

New York
Illinois

Taxes

10.9%
Income Tax (top rate)
4.95%
1.4%/yr
Property Tax Rate
1.73%/yr
8.52%
Sales Tax (avg)
8.82%
Yes
Social Security Tax
Yes
No
Estate Tax
No
As income
Capital Gains Tax
As income

Housing & Cost of Living

139
COL Index (100=avg)
92
$470K
Median Home Price
$275K
$2,200/mo
Median Rent (2BR/mo)
$1,400/mo
$2K/yr
Home Insurance (avg/yr)
$2K/yr

Crime & Safety

379
Violent Crime / 100K
413
1,480
Property Crime / 100K
1,666

Healthcare

#15 of 50
Healthcare Quality Rank
#20 of 50
79.3 yrs
Life Expectancy
77.2 yrs
5.4%
Uninsured Rate
7.4%
Yes
Medicaid Expansion
Yes

Education

#12 of 50
K-12 Quality Rank
#16 of 50
No
School Choice / Vouchers
No

Childcare

$2,050/mo
Avg Infant Care / mo
$1,650/mo

Utilities & Daily Costs

$175/mo
Avg Energy Bill / mo
$145/mo
$650/mo
Avg Groceries / mo
$510/mo
#48 of 50
Road Quality Rank
#40 of 50

Social Policy

A
Gun Laws Grade
A
D+12.0
2024 Presidential Margin
D+14.0

Category wins

6

New York City

6

Chicago

Run the full slider tool to score these states against your income, home value, retirement, and lifestyle priorities.

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People Also Ask

Is $70,000 a good salary in New York?

Is 70k enough to live in NYC? Living in New York City on a $70,000 salary is possible but requires budgeting. Rent will likely be your most significant expense, with affordable housing typically found in Queens or Brooklyn, where a one-bedroom can cost $2,000-$3,000 per month.

Is $300,000 a good salary in Chicago?

300K Salary in Chicago, IL The median wage is $281.2K / yr. $333.2K is the 75th percentile.

Which city is safer to live in, Chicago or New York City?

In comparison, New York is highly safe and ranked as one of the safest cities in the world. It has reported a crime rate of 21.88 crimes per 1000 people, which is almost 50% lower than in Chicago. According to Numbeo, the crime index is recorded at 50.97, which is again lower than in Chicago.

Would you rather live in New York or Chicago?

Chicago offers a more affordable cost of living, with housing costs significantly lower than NYC, and a vibrant local culture. In contrast, NYC boasts unparalleled career opportunities, especially in finance and tech, but at a higher cost of living.

Explore New York in depth →Explore Illinois in depth →

Your Priorities

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Quick Profiles

Dial in your priorities

Annual Income

$150K

Affects effective income tax rate

$0$500K$5M+

Retirement Savings

$0

Affects pension and SS tax burden

None$500K$10M+

Social Security

None

Annual Social Security benefit

None$150K/yr

My Property Is Worth

$400K

Affects property tax burden

Tax burden ↓$1M$50M+

Home Buying Budget

$400K

Compared to state median home price

Hard to find$250K$5M+

Monthly Rent Budget

Don't care

Compared to state median 2BR rent

Don't care$10K/mo

Job Market

Don't care

State unemployment and job growth

Don't careHot market

Airport Access

Don't care

Direct flight destinations from state hubs

Don't careMust have hub

City vs Country

Mid-size city

% urban population

Deep countryBig city

Sunshine

Don't care

Annual sunny days per state

Don't careMax sunshine

Food Scene

Don't care

Restaurants per 100K residents

Don't careWorld-class

Political Preference

Neutral

State's political lean

LiberalConservative

Gun Laws

Neutral

State gun law grade (Giffords)

Gun Control2A Freedom

Abortion Access

Neutral

State abortion access policy

Pro-ChoiceNeutralPro-Life

Community

None

Congregations per 100K residents

AvoidDon't careSeek

Sports & Entertainment

Don't care

Pro sports teams and major venues

Don't careMust have pro teams

Cannabis Laws

Neutral

State cannabis legality

Prefer LegalNeutralPrefer Prohibition

Retiree Community

Neutral

% population 65+ (Census)

Young areaRetirement-heavy

Dating Market

Neutral

% adults never-married (Census)

Singles sceneFamily community

Safety / Low Crime

Don't care

Violent crime rate per 100K (FBI)

Don't careVery safe

School Quality

Don't care

K-12 rank (Education Week)

Don't careTop-ranked

Healthcare Access

Don't care

Healthcare system rank (Commonwealth Fund)

Don't careTop-ranked

Childcare Affordability

Don't care

Cost of living proxy for childcare affordability

Don't careMust be affordable