CostIndexUSA

Chicago, IL vs Prescott, AZ Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

IL
Chicago
103.6
overall index
$2,100/mo rent
More AffordableAZ
Prescott
98.3
overall index
$1,475/mo rent

Prescott is moderately cheaper than Chicago — 5.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Chicago, you would need $75,900 in Prescott. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing11.8%
Chicago
112
Prescott
98.8
🛒 Groceries10.3%
Chicago
107.3
Prescott
96.2
🚗 Transportation0.7%
Chicago
105.5
Prescott
104.8
🏥 Healthcare0.7%
Chicago
95.5
Prescott
94.8
Utilities+9.4%
Chicago
83.6
Prescott
91.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Prescott, AZ
$75,900
$4,100 less needed in Prescott

Formula: salary × (98.3 ÷ 103.6) = salary × 0.9488. 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×

Prescott, AZ

Median Home Price
$405,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,475
Housing Index
98.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
22.9×

Chicago has 11.8% lower housing costs compared to Prescott.

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

Prescott, AZ

Median Household Income
$67,200
Per Capita Income
$38,300
Unemployment Rate
4.2%
Population
45,827
Top Industries
HealthcareTourismRetailGovernmentReal Estate

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)

Prescott, AZ
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

74% 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.