CostIndexUSA

Bremerton, WA vs Chicago, IL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

WA
Bremerton
105.6
overall index
$1,975/mo rent
More AffordableIL
Chicago
103.6
overall index
$2,100/mo rent

Chicago is slightly cheaper than Bremerton — 1.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Bremerton, you would need $78,500 in Chicago. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing13.6%
Bremerton
129.6
Chicago
112
🛒 Groceries+2.2%
Bremerton
105
Chicago
107.3
🚗 Transportation+1.1%
Bremerton
104.4
Chicago
105.5
🏥 Healthcare+1.1%
Bremerton
94.5
Chicago
95.5
Utilities9.1%
Bremerton
92
Chicago
83.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Bremerton to see what you'd need to earn in Chicago to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Chicago, IL
$78,500
$1,500 less needed in Chicago

Formula: salary × (103.6 ÷ 105.6) = salary × 0.9811. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Bremerton, WA

Median Home Price
$565,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,975
Housing Index
129.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
23.8×

Chicago, IL

Median Home Price
$334,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,100
Housing Index
112
Price-to-Rent Ratio
13.3×

Bremerton has 13.6% lower housing costs compared to Chicago.

Income & Job Market

Bremerton, WA

Median Household Income
$99,600
Per Capita Income
$56,800
Unemployment Rate
5.3%
Population
44,522
Top Industries
MilitaryHealthcareManufacturingGovernmentRetail

Chicago, IL

Median Household Income
$87,100
Per Capita Income
$49,600
Unemployment Rate
4.9%
Population
2,693,976
Top Industries
FinanceHealthcareManufacturingTechnologyRetail

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Bremerton, WA
4.2×income-to-rent ratio

76% of income left after rent (median)

Chicago, IL
3.5×income-to-rent ratio

71% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.