CostIndexUSA

Chicago, IL vs Tallahassee, FL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

IL
Chicago
103.6
overall index
$2,100/mo rent
More AffordableFL
Tallahassee
93.9
overall index
$1,475/mo rent

Tallahassee is moderately cheaper than Chicago — 9.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Chicago, you would need $72,500 in Tallahassee. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing29.9%
Chicago
112
Tallahassee
78.5
🛒 Groceries10.3%
Chicago
107.3
Tallahassee
96.2
🚗 Transportation1.6%
Chicago
105.5
Tallahassee
103.8
🏥 Healthcare1.7%
Chicago
95.5
Tallahassee
93.9
Utilities+4.7%
Chicago
83.6
Tallahassee
87.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Tallahassee, FL
$72,500
$7,500 less needed in Tallahassee

Formula: salary × (93.9 ÷ 103.6) = salary × 0.9064. 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×

Tallahassee, FL

Median Home Price
$273,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,475
Housing Index
78.5
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.4×

Chicago has 29.9% lower housing costs compared to Tallahassee.

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

Tallahassee, FL

Median Household Income
$64,000
Per Capita Income
$36,500
Unemployment Rate
5.8%
Population
196,169
Top Industries
GovernmentEducationHealthcareRetailFinance

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)

Tallahassee, FL
3.6×income-to-rent ratio

72% 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.