Wouldr/Compare/Austin vs Chicago

Austin, TX vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living & Tax Comparison

On a $75,000 salary, Austin, TX leaves you $7,361 more per year after taxes and cost of living.

Results shown for a $75,000 salary

Enter your income for a personalized comparison with full tax calculations

$

From

Austin, TX

To

Chicago, IL

·

Income

$75,000

Austin is financially better

Moving to Chicago, IL would leave you $7,361 less per year.

Your $75,000 in Austin, TX has the same purchasing power as $75,670 in Chicago, IL.

MetricAustinChicago
Annual gross income$75,000$75,000
Total taxes (all)$13,852$17,564
Annual take-home pay$61,149$57,436
Monthly expenses$3,923$4,227
Monthly surplus$1,173$559
Annual surplus$14,073$6,712
Tax effective rate18.5%23.4%

Tax difference / yr

$3,712

Austin saves more

Surplus difference / yr

$7,361

Austin leaves more money

Monthly surplus gap

$613.417

per month

For informational purposes only — not financial advice. Calculations use 2025 tax tables, current mortgage rates (~6.9%), and BLS/Numbeo cost-of-living data.

Related comparisons

Frequently asked questions

Compare your actual numbers

The results above use a $75,000 baseline salary. Enter your real income, filing status, and housing preference to see your personalized financial comparison.