Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chicago, IL
VS
Mobile, AL
🏆 Mobile leads 14 of 22 categories
Chicago
Illinois
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,673 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
2,721,914 ✓ Larger
Mobile
Alabama
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,524
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High
Population
186,316
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chicago, IL
Pros
Households earn $23,149 more per year on average
28% less violent crime than Mobile
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (539.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Mobile
Property crime (3472.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 6.5%)
Mobile, AL
Pros
Homes cost $146k less ($158,400 vs $304,500)
Rent averages $329/mo less ($985 vs $1,314)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (6.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 32°F
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Chicago
Cons
Median income trails Chicago by $23,149/yr
Violent crime (752.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Chicago
Median Income
$23,149
$71,673 vs $48,524/yr
Chicago
Violent Crime
28% lower
539.8 vs 752.0 per 100k
Mobile
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Mobile
Median Home Value
$146k less
$158,400 vs $304,500
Mobile
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
6.5% vs 8.2% unemployment
Mobile
Summer Heat
10.7°F warmer
July avg high 91.7°F vs 81.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chicago, IL | Mobile, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $304,500 | $158,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,314 | $985 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,673 ✓ Higher | $48,524 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 6.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.1 min⚠ High | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.6% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | 151⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 142⚠ High ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 80 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 30.2% |
| High School or Higher | 86.6% | 89.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 | Mobile County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.9°F | 62.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.0°F | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.4" ✓ Drier | 68.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.8" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,721,914 ✓ Larger | 186,316 |
| Median Age | 35.3 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 50.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.3% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chicago's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Mobile's 89.4 (US average = 100).
Mobile is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Mobile leads 14 of 22 categories. Chicago wins 8 and Mobile wins 14. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Chicago to Mobile or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,500 vs $158,400 median home), income ($71,673 vs $48,524), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chicago, IL and Mobile, AL are about 772 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.