Cost of Living: Chicago, IL vs Normal, IL

Quick rent-and-take-home comparison

Using a baseline of $70,000/yr gross, take-home is about $4,227/mo in Chicago, IL versus $4,227/mo in Normal, IL. In the model, rent is about 20.28% of gross in Chicago, IL versus 14.19% in Normal, IL, so Normal, IL tends to feel more affordable for rent.

Take-home in Chicago, IL
$4,227/mo
Income level: above
Take-home in Normal, IL
$4,227/mo
Income level: near
Rent share (1BR) in Chicago, IL
20.28%
COLI tier: mid-range
Rent share (1BR) in Normal, IL
14.19%
COLI tier: mid-range

Compare cost of living, rent, housing prices, and salary affordability between Chicago, IL and Normal, IL.

At a glance

  • Cheaper overall (lower cost-of-living index): Chicago, IL
  • Lower rent (median 1BR/2BR): Normal, IL
  • Lower home prices: Chicago, IL
  • Higher median household income: Normal, IL

Cost of Living Index

Chicago, IL: 98.3 (U.S. = 100) · Normal, IL: 100 (U.S. = 100)

Chicago, IL has a lower cost-of-living index than Normal, IL, so a given salary generally stretches further there.

Median Rent

Chicago, IL: $1,323/mo (midpoint of 1BR/2BR) · Normal, IL: $926/mo

Median rent in Chicago, IL is $397/mo higher than in Normal, IL.

Median Home Price

Chicago, IL: $147,800 · Normal, IL: $199,900

Median home price in Normal, IL is $52,100 higher than in Chicago, IL.

Median Household Income

Chicago, IL: $56,815 · Normal, IL: $66,350

Normal, IL has a higher median household income than Chicago, IL by $9,535.

Chicago, IL overview · Normal, IL overview · Popular comparisons