CostIndexUSA

Chicago, IL vs Utica, NY Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

IL
Chicago
103.6
overall index
$2,100/mo rent
More AffordableNY
Utica
92.7
overall index
$1,375/mo rent

Utica is moderately cheaper than Chicago — 10.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Chicago, you would need $71,600 in Utica. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing41.0%
Chicago
112
Utica
66.1
🛒 Groceries7.1%
Chicago
107.3
Utica
99.7
🚗 Transportation2.7%
Chicago
105.5
Utica
102.6
🏥 Healthcare2.7%
Chicago
95.5
Utica
92.9
Utilities+57.8%
Chicago
83.6
Utica
131.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Utica, NY
$71,600
$8,400 less needed in Utica

Formula: salary × (92.7 ÷ 103.6) = salary × 0.8948. 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×

Utica, NY

Median Home Price
$213,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,375
Housing Index
66.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
12.9×

Chicago has 41.0% lower housing costs compared to Utica.

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

Utica, NY

Median Household Income
$61,800
Per Capita Income
$35,200
Unemployment Rate
4.5%
Population
60,651
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingGovernmentEducationRetail

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)

Utica, NY
3.7×income-to-rent ratio

73% 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.