Relocation: Chicago Metro, IL-IN to Austin-Round Rock, TX
Data updated · Sources: HUD FY 2027 Fair Market Rents, EPI 2026 Family Budget, 2026 tax tables · Methodology
Income tax, HUD Fair Market Rents and EPI living costs for a move from Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN to Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX.
Interactive Purchasing Power Equivalency Workbench
Adjust your current salary at origin to dynamically compute the statutory tax burden, housing costs, and discretionary cash in both markets.
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX
Itemized Cost of Living Expenditure Arbitrage
Category-by-category breakdown of monthly baseline consumption between origin and destination.
| Expenditure Category | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin (Monthly) | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos (Monthly) | Monthly Delta ($) | Difference (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (1BR Fair Market Rent) | $1,780 | $1,530 | -$250 | -14.0% |
| Food & Groceries | $385 | $334 | -$51 | -13.2% |
| Transportation | $947 | $1,062 | +$115 | +12.1% |
| Healthcare | $416 | $467 | +$51 | +12.3% |
| Other Necessities | $572 | $585 | +$13 | +2.3% |
| Total Taxes (Federal, State, Local, FICA) | $2,135 | $1,735 | -$400 | -18.7% |
HUD Fair Market Rent Differential
EPI Living Wage Benchmark Comparison
Top Local Occupations Wage Parity
BLS median wage comparisons across benchmark roles between both metropolitan labor markets.
| Occupation Title | Industry Sector | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin Median | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos Median | Nominal Wage Delta | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General and Operations ManagersFinance & Management | Finance & Management | $109,390 | $117,850 | +$8,460 (+7.7%) | View Dossier |
| Registered Nurse (RN)Healthcare | Healthcare | $100,490 | $97,890 | -$2,600 (-2.6%) | View Dossier |
| Software EngineerTechnology | Technology | $134,380 | $134,120 | -$260 (-0.2%) | View Dossier |
| Accountant & AuditorFinance | Finance | $82,360 | $83,120 | +$760 (+0.9%) | View Dossier |
| Financial ManagerFinance | Finance | $168,810 | $167,180 | -$1,630 (-1.0%) | View Dossier |
| Management AnalystBusiness Operations | Business Operations | $105,090 | $106,600 | +$1,510 (+1.4%) | View Dossier |
| Project Management SpecialistBusiness Operations | Business Operations | $105,320 | $102,390 | -$2,930 (-2.8%) | View Dossier |
| Computer and Information Systems ManagersFinance & Management | Finance & Management | $173,760 | $176,990 | +$3,230 (+1.9%) | View Dossier |
| Sales ManagersFinance & Management | Finance & Management | $158,690 | $151,760 | -$6,930 (-4.4%) | View Dossier |
| Quality Control InspectorIndustrial Manufacturing | Industrial Manufacturing | $48,230 | $48,260 | +$30 (+0.1%) | View Dossier |
| ElectricianSkilled Trades | Skilled Trades | $102,350 | $60,390 | -$41,960 (-41.0%) | View Dossier |
| Marketing ManagersFinance & Management | Finance & Management | $165,340 | $164,920 | -$420 (-0.3%) | View Dossier |
Major US Inter-Metro Relocation Corridors
Empirical cost differentials and statutory tax savings across high-volume migration routes.
On $100k: $8,301 less tax and $14,388 less 1BR rent a year
On $100k: $6,211 less tax and $17,676 less 1BR rent a year
On $100k: $4,805 less tax and $2,928 less 1BR rent a year
On $100k: $1,729 less tax and $19,884 less 1BR rent a year
On $100k: $4,113 less tax and $10,908 less 1BR rent a year
On $100k: $3,761 more tax and $4,188 less 1BR rent a year
On $100k: $1,299 less tax and $11,592 less 1BR rent a year
On $100k: $8,301 less tax and $7,296 less 1BR rent a year
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN to Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX Relocation FAQs
About $99,800. That scales $100,000 by the ratio of the metros' cost-of-living indexes (125.8 in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, 125.6 in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX, from EPI family budgets); taxes are compared separately below.
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN to Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX: State Paychecks, Rents & Reciprocal Corridor
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN to Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX: 2026 federal, state & local income tax, HUD Fair Market Rents & EPI living costs compared. Official 2026 economic data for Relocation: Chicago Metro, IL-IN to Austin-Round Rock, TX compiled from Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS surveys, HUD Fair Market Rents, and statutory tax codes.
Quick answers
About $99,800. That scales $100,000 by the ratio of the metros' cost-of-living indexes (125.8 in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, 125.6 in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX, from EPI family budgets); taxes are compared separately below.
EPI's family budgets for a single adult put overall living costs 0.2% lower in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX than in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN. The budgets cover housing, food, transportation, health care and other necessities.