Cost of Living: Chicago, IL vs Denver, CO
Chicago is about 2% cheaper than Denver overall.
Comparing Chicago, IL and Denver, CO across cost of living, rent, income, and the salary needed to live comfortably. Chicago has a lower overall price level, driven mainly by housing.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | Chicago | Denver |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living index | 103.6 | 105.8 |
| Median rent | $1,380 | $1,770 |
| Rent, 1-bedroom (FMR) | $1,581 | $1,754 |
| Rent, 2-bedroom (FMR) | $1,781 | $2,089 |
| Median home value | $315,200 | $586,700 |
| Median household income | $75,134 | $91,681 |
| Salary needed (single) | $63,200 | $70,200 |
| Salary needed (family) | $91,800 | $109,400 |
Green highlights the more favorable value for each metric. Lower is better for costs; higher is better for income. Figures are estimates from public data (BEA, Census, HUD).
Which City Is More Affordable?
Overall, Chicago is the more affordable of the two, with a cost-of-living index of 103.6 versus 105.8 for Denver. The biggest difference is usually housing, where rents in Denver run noticeably higher.
You can read the full breakdown for each city on its own page: cost of living in Chicago and cost of living in Denver.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Chicago or Denver?
Chicago is about 2% cheaper than Denver overall, based on the BEA cost-of-living index (Chicago: 103.6 vs Denver: 105.8).
What is the rent difference between Chicago and Denver?
The median rent is $1,380 in Chicago and $1,770 in Denver.
How much salary do you need in Chicago vs Denver?
A single person needs about $63,200 in Chicago and $70,200 in Denver to live comfortably.
Data Sources
Cost-of-living index from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (Regional Price Parities). Income, rent, and home value from the U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey 5-Year). Fair Market Rents from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.