Question 1

Is Chicago or Philadelphia cheaper to live in?

Accepted Answer

Chicago, IL is cheaper. Estimated essentials for a single person run about $11/month less than in Philadelphia, covering rent plus everyday costs. Typical rent is $1,781/mo in Chicago versus $1,810/mo in Philadelphia.

Question 2

What salary do you need in Chicago vs Philadelphia?

Accepted Answer

Living comfortably takes roughly $81,000/year before tax in Chicago, IL and $84,000/year in Philadelphia, PA — a difference of about $3,000. Both figures are after state and local income taxes are accounted for.

Question 3

Is Chicago or Philadelphia cheaper for a family?

Accepted Answer

Chicago, the same answer as for a single person. Two adults with a pre-schooler and a school-age child run about $9,545/month in Chicago and $9,690/month in Philadelphia, including county-median childcare.

Question 4

Should I move to Chicago or Philadelphia?

Accepted Answer

It depends on what you weight. Chicago costs less month to month, but cost is one of six factors — jobs, safety, climate, housing and amenities all differ too. Compare them against your own income and priorities rather than a single ranking.

Metric	Chicago61	Philadelphia53
Est. monthly cost (single)	$4,293	$4,304
Est. monthly cost (family of 4, incl. childcare)	$9,545	$9,690
Salary for comfort	$81,000/yr	$84,000/yr
Typical rent	$1,781	$1,810
Median home value	$315,200	$232,400
Median household income	$75,134	$60,698
Unemployment	5.9%	4.9%
Housing score	52	45
Jobs score	7	55
Safety score	66	4
Climate score	89	100
Amenities score	73	46
Population	2.7M	1.6M
Summer high / winter low	85° / 21°	87° / 29°

Chicago, IL vs Philadelphia, PA