Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN vs. Bay City, MI 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 |
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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.
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Bay City, MI
Executive Takeaway & Purchasing Power Verdict
The BLS median wage across all occupations is $54,720 in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN and $45,620 in Bay City, MI, 16.6% lower in Bay City. HUD's one-bedroom Fair Market Rent is $1,780 a month in Chicago and $835 in Bay City (53.1% lower in Bay City). On a $75,000 salary a single filer pays $2,937 in state and local income tax in Bay City versus $3,568 in Chicago, $631 less a year in Bay City. EPI family budgets put overall living costs 28.2% lower in Bay City, so $75,000 in Chicago goes about as far as $53,870 in Bay City. Adjusted for living costs, the median wage buys about 16.1% more in Bay City, MI than in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN.
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN vs Bay City, MI: Shared Occupation Wages
Comparing empirical BLS median wages across common professions in both labor markets.
| Category / Role | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN Median | Bay City, MI Median | Advantage Delta | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chief ExecutivesSOC 11-1011 | $344,960 | $247,680 | -28.2% | Dossier |
| Natural Sciences ManagersSOC 11-9121 | $167,040 | $204,120 | +22.2% | Dossier |
| Computer and Information Systems ManagersSOC 11-3021 | $173,760 | $159,850 | -8% | Dossier |
| Architectural and Engineering ManagersSOC 11-9041 | $163,430 | $160,560 | -1.8% | Dossier |
| Financial ManagerSOC 11-3031 | $168,810 | $124,130 | -26.5% | Dossier |
| Sales ManagersSOC 11-2022 | $158,690 | $130,760 | -17.6% | Dossier |
| Nurse PractitionerSOC 29-1171 | $131,740 | $127,830 | -3% | Dossier |
| Software EngineerSOC 15-1252 | $134,380 | $124,420 | -7.4% | Dossier |
| Industrial Production ManagersSOC 11-3051 | $129,840 | $113,810 | -12.3% | Dossier |
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through SecondarySOC 11-9032 | $128,780 | $99,390 | -22.8% | Dossier |
| Medical and Health Services ManagersSOC 11-9111 | $123,090 | $101,050 | -17.9% | Dossier |
| Management AnalystSOC 13-1111 | $105,090 | $114,610 | +9.1% | Dossier |
Head-to-Head Comparison Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN or Bay City, MI?
Bay City, MI is cheaper: its cost-of-living index (from EPI family budgets, U.S. = 100) is 90.4 versus 125.8 in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN. HUD's one-bedroom Fair Market Rent is $1,780 a month in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN and $835 in Bay City, MI.
How much do I need to earn in Bay City, MI to match $75,000 in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About $53,870. That scales $75,000 by the ratio of the two metros' cost-of-living indexes (125.8 in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, 90.4 in Bay City, MI); it does not account for differences in taxes.
Do jobs pay more in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN or Bay City, MI?
The BLS median wage across all occupations is $54,720 in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN and $45,620 in Bay City, MI. 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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN and Bay City, MI?
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. Bay City, MI has a top state rate of 4.25%; a single filer earning $75,000 pays $2,937 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 16.1% more in Bay City, MI than in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN.
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN vs. Bay City, MI: Reverse Comparison & Regional Hubs
Side-by-side wage, living expense, and tax arbitrage comparison for Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN vs. Bay City, MI. Empirical BLS earnings and HUD benchmarks. Official 2026 economic data for Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN vs. Bay City, MI compiled from Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS surveys, HUD Fair Market Rents, and statutory tax codes.
Quick answers
Bay City, MI is cheaper: its cost-of-living index (from EPI family budgets, U.S. = 100) is 90.4 versus 125.8 in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN. HUD's one-bedroom Fair Market Rent is $1,780 a month in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN and $835 in Bay City, MI.
About $53,870. That scales $75,000 by the ratio of the two metros' cost-of-living indexes (125.8 in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, 90.4 in Bay City, MI); it does not account for differences in taxes.