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City 2:

๐Ÿ’ก Smart Analysis

Comparing Chicago and New York: Average gross pay is 13% higher in New York. Cost of living is 17% cheaper in Chicago. With higher take-home and lower expenses, Chicago is a more financially comfortable place to live with an affordability score of 6.5/10 compared to 5.8/10.

Category Comparison
๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
Chicago
๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
New York

๐Ÿ’ฐ Gross Salaries & Ranges

Average Gross Salary (Annual)
The primary average salary across experience ranges
$113,000/yr
$128,000/yr
HIGHER
Junior Developer Pay
$67,000
$74,000
Mid-Level Developer Pay
$99,000
$108,000
Senior Developer Pay
$147,000
$158,000
Lead / Architect Pay
$183,000
$198,000

๐Ÿ  Monthly Cost of Living

Rent โ€” City Center (1 Bed)
$1,900
$3,500
Rent โ€” Suburbs (1 Bed)
$1,200
$2,200
Groceries (Monthly)
$500
$600
Public Transport Pass
$105
$130
Utilities (Electricity, Internet)
$240
$300
Estimated Cost of Living
Rent center, groceries, transport plans & hobbies included
$4,023/mo
CHEAPER
$4,835/mo

๐Ÿงพ Tax rates & Take-home

Average Income Tax Rate
25%
25%
Social Security Deduction
8%
8%
Monthly Take-home (After Tax)
Estimated direct net monthly deposit based on mid-level pay
$5,527/mo
$6,030/mo

๐Ÿ“Š Affordability & Savings

Affordability Index
Score out of 10 comparing local net pay to costs
6.5
MORE AFFORDABLE
5.8
Monthly Savings Potential
Money left over after all standard cost of living expenses
$1,504/mo
$1,195/mo
Months to Save $10,000
~7 months
~8 months
๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ Complete Chicago Breakdown & Charts โ†’ ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ Complete New York Breakdown & Charts โ†’