Boulder, CO vs. Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN Comparison (2026)
Empirical side-by-side analysis of regional cost of living, HUD fair market rents, statutory tax burdens, and occupational compensation spread.
Featured Metro Comparisons
BLS median wage across all occupations, HUD one-bedroom Fair Market Rent, and state and local income tax on a $75,000 salary for a single filer, first metro over second.
| Comparison | Median Wage | 1BR Rent / mo | Tax on $75k | Median Buys More In |
|---|
Featured Occupation Comparisons
National BLS OEWS median wage and employment, first occupation over second.
| Comparison | National Median | BLS Jobs | Higher Median |
|---|
How the comparisons are calculated
Metro comparisons use each area's BLS OEWS May 2025 median wage across all occupations, HUD's FY2027 one-bedroom Fair Market Rent, and the state and local income tax a single filer owes on $75,000 under 2026 rules. "Median buys more in" divides each median by the area's living-cost index from the EPI Family Budget Calculator; it reads "Not published" where BLS or EPI publishes no figure for the area.
Occupation comparisons use national BLS OEWS medians and job counts. Each comparison page goes further: the occupations both metros publish wages for, or each occupation's 10th to 90th percentile pay and the metros where both are published. Pick any two metros or occupations above to build your own comparison.
Boulder, CO
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Executive Takeaway & Purchasing Power Verdict
The BLS median wage across all occupations is $69,580 in Boulder, CO and $54,720 in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, 21.4% lower in Chicago. HUD's one-bedroom Fair Market Rent is $1,735 a month in Boulder and $1,780 in Chicago (2.6% higher in Chicago). On a $75,000 salary a single filer pays $2,592 in state and local income tax in Boulder versus $3,568 in Chicago, $976 less a year in Boulder. EPI family budgets put overall living costs 2.7% lower in Chicago, so $75,000 in Boulder goes about as far as $73,000 in Chicago. Adjusted for living costs, the median wage buys about 23.8% more in Boulder, CO than in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN.
Boulder, CO vs Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN: Shared Occupation Wages
Comparing empirical BLS median wages across common professions in both labor markets.
| Category / Role | Boulder, CO Median | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN Median | Advantage Delta | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chief ExecutivesSOC 11-1011 | $216,400 | $344,960 | +59.4% | Dossier |
| Computer and Information Systems ManagersSOC 11-3021 | $206,260 | $173,760 | -15.8% | Dossier |
| Natural Sciences ManagersSOC 11-9121 | $210,340 | $167,040 | -20.6% | Dossier |
| Architectural and Engineering ManagersSOC 11-9041 | $203,420 | $163,430 | -19.7% | Dossier |
| Marketing ManagersSOC 11-2021 | $199,570 | $165,340 | -17.2% | Dossier |
| Financial ManagerSOC 11-3031 | $192,970 | $168,810 | -12.5% | Dossier |
| Sales ManagersSOC 11-2022 | $200,970 | $158,690 | -21% | Dossier |
| Human Resources ManagersSOC 11-3121 | $169,000 | $156,770 | -7.2% | Dossier |
| Purchasing ManagersSOC 11-3061 | $160,290 | $155,080 | -3.3% | Dossier |
| Training and Development ManagersSOC 11-3131 | $172,640 | $133,800 | -22.5% | Dossier |
| Software EngineerSOC 15-1252 | $164,560 | $134,380 | -18.3% | Dossier |
| Industrial Production ManagersSOC 11-3051 | $162,040 | $129,840 | -19.9% | Dossier |
Head-to-Head Comparison Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Boulder, CO or Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN is cheaper: its cost-of-living index (from EPI family budgets, U.S. = 100) is 125.8 versus 129.3 in Boulder, CO. HUD's one-bedroom Fair Market Rent is $1,735 a month in Boulder, CO and $1,780 in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN.
How much do I need to earn in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN to match $75,000 in Boulder, CO?
About $73,000. That scales $75,000 by the ratio of the two metros' cost-of-living indexes (129.3 in Boulder, CO, 125.8 in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN); it does not account for differences in taxes.
Do jobs pay more in Boulder, CO or Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The BLS median wage across all occupations is $69,580 in Boulder, CO and $54,720 in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN. Pay for a specific occupation can differ; the table on this page compares BLS medians for occupations published in both metros.
How do income taxes compare between Boulder, CO and Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Boulder, CO has a top state rate of 4.4%; a single filer earning $75,000 pays $2,592 in state and local income tax there. Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN has a top state rate of 4.95%; a single filer earning $75,000 pays $3,568 in state and local income tax there. Federal income tax and FICA are the same in both.
Where does the median wage go further?
Dividing each metro's BLS median wage by its cost-of-living index, the median wage buys about 23.8% more in Boulder, CO than in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN.
Boulder, CO vs. Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN: Reverse Comparison & Regional Hubs
Side-by-side wage, living expense, and tax arbitrage comparison for Boulder, CO vs. Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN. Empirical BLS earnings and HUD benchmarks. Official 2026 economic data for Boulder, CO vs. Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN compiled from Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS surveys, HUD Fair Market Rents, and statutory tax codes.
Quick answers
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN is cheaper: its cost-of-living index (from EPI family budgets, U.S. = 100) is 125.8 versus 129.3 in Boulder, CO. HUD's one-bedroom Fair Market Rent is $1,735 a month in Boulder, CO and $1,780 in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN.
About $73,000. That scales $75,000 by the ratio of the two metros' cost-of-living indexes (129.3 in Boulder, CO, 125.8 in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN); it does not account for differences in taxes.