Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chicago, IL
VS
New York, NY
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Chicago
Illinois
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,673
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
2,721,914
New York
New York
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,607 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
177⚠ High
Population
8,622,467 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chicago, IL
Pros
Homes cost $428k less ($304,500 vs $732,100)
20% less violent crime than New York
Rent averages $400/mo less ($1,314 vs $1,714)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than New York
Cons
Violent crime (539.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3472.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails New York by $4,934/yr
New York, NY
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (7.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 40°F vs 32°F
Households earn $4,934 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $732,100
Violent crime (671.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,714/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Chicago
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Chicago
Violent Crime
20% lower
539.8 vs 671.0 per 100k
Chicago
Median Home Value
$428k less
$304,500 vs $732,100
New York
Median Income
$4,934
$76,607 vs $71,673/yr
New York
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
7.6% vs 8.2% unemployment
New York
Summer Heat
3.8°F warmer
July avg high 84.8°F vs 81.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chicago, IL | New York, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $304,500 ✓ Lower | $732,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,314 ✓ Lower | $1,714⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,673 | $76,607 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 7.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.1 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 41.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 15.6% ✓ Higher | 13.0% |
| 🔒 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 | 177⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 113⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | B+ (108) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 40.2% |
| High School or Higher | 86.6% ✓ Higher | 83.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 | NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT # 2 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.9°F | 39.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.0°F | 84.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.4" ✓ Drier | 47.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.8" | 24.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,721,914 | 8,622,467 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.3 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% ✓ Higher | 32.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 20.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.3% | 15.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chicago's cost of living index is 102.6 vs New York's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Chicago is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Chicago wins 11 and New York wins 11. 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 New York or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,500 vs $732,100 median home), income ($71,673 vs $76,607), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chicago, IL and New York, NY are about 718 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.