CostIndexUSA

Chicago, IL vs Hagerstown, MD Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

IL
Chicago
103.6
overall index
$2,100/mo rent
More AffordableMD
Hagerstown
94.2
overall index
$1,550/mo rent

Hagerstown is moderately cheaper than Chicago — 9.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Chicago, you would need $72,700 in Hagerstown. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing32.4%
Chicago
112
Hagerstown
75.7
🛒 Groceries10.2%
Chicago
107.3
Hagerstown
96.4
🚗 Transportation0.9%
Chicago
105.5
Hagerstown
104.5
🏥 Healthcare1.0%
Chicago
95.5
Hagerstown
94.5
Utilities+14.5%
Chicago
83.6
Hagerstown
95.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Hagerstown, MD
$72,700
$7,300 less needed in Hagerstown

Formula: salary × (94.2 ÷ 103.6) = salary × 0.9093. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Chicago, IL

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

Hagerstown, MD

Median Home Price
$313,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,550
Housing Index
75.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.8×

Chicago has 32.4% lower housing costs compared to Hagerstown.

Income & Job Market

Chicago, IL

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

Hagerstown, MD

Median Household Income
$75,400
Per Capita Income
$43,000
Unemployment Rate
4.4%
Population
43,484
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingLogisticsRetailGovernment

Affordability at a Glance

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

Chicago, IL
3.5×income-to-rent ratio

71% of income left after rent (median)

Hagerstown, MD
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

75% 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.