Relocation: Chicago Metro, IL-IN to Charleston Metro, SC
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 Charleston-North Charleston, SC.
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
Charleston-North Charleston, SC
Itemized Cost of Living Expenditure Arbitrage
Category-by-category breakdown of monthly baseline consumption between origin and destination.
| Expenditure Category | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin (Monthly) | Charleston-North Charleston (Monthly) | Monthly Delta ($) | Difference (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (1BR Fair Market Rent) | $1,780 | $1,731 | -$49 | -2.8% |
| Food & Groceries | $385 | $380 | -$5 | -1.3% |
| Transportation | $947 | $1,060 | +$113 | +11.9% |
| Healthcare | $416 | $429 | +$13 | +3.1% |
| Other Necessities | $572 | $609 | +$37 | +6.5% |
| Total Taxes (Federal, State, Local, FICA) | $2,135 | $2,089 | -$46 | -2.2% |
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 | Charleston-North Charleston Median | Nominal Wage Delta | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General and Operations ManagersFinance & Management | Finance & Management | $109,390 | $109,260 | -$130 (-0.1%) | View Dossier |
| Registered Nurse (RN)Healthcare | Healthcare | $100,490 | $92,800 | -$7,690 (-7.7%) | View Dossier |
| Accountant & AuditorFinance | Finance | $82,360 | $79,350 | -$3,010 (-3.7%) | View Dossier |
| Financial ManagerFinance | Finance | $168,810 | $147,170 | -$21,640 (-12.8%) | View Dossier |
| Software EngineerTechnology | Technology | $134,380 | $132,150 | -$2,230 (-1.7%) | View Dossier |
| Management AnalystBusiness Operations | Business Operations | $105,090 | $104,650 | -$440 (-0.4%) | View Dossier |
| Sales ManagersFinance & Management | Finance & Management | $158,690 | $139,830 | -$18,860 (-11.9%) | View Dossier |
| Computer and Information Systems ManagersFinance & Management | Finance & Management | $173,760 | $167,000 | -$6,760 (-3.9%) | View Dossier |
| Project Management SpecialistBusiness Operations | Business Operations | $105,320 | $94,730 | -$10,590 (-10.1%) | View Dossier |
| Quality Control InspectorIndustrial Manufacturing | Industrial Manufacturing | $48,230 | $50,470 | +$2,240 (+4.6%) | View Dossier |
| ElectricianSkilled Trades | Skilled Trades | $102,350 | $59,010 | -$43,340 (-42.3%) | View Dossier |
| Medical and Health Services ManagersFinance & Management | Finance & Management | $123,090 | $121,990 | -$1,100 (-0.9%) | 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 Charleston-North Charleston, SC Relocation FAQs
About $108,500. That scales $100,000 by the ratio of the metros' cost-of-living indexes (125.8 in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, 136.5 in Charleston-North Charleston, SC, from EPI family budgets); taxes are compared separately below.
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN to Charleston-North Charleston, SC: State Paychecks, Rents & Reciprocal Corridor
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN to Charleston-North Charleston, SC: 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 Charleston Metro, SC compiled from Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS surveys, HUD Fair Market Rents, and statutory tax codes.
Quick answers
About $108,500. That scales $100,000 by the ratio of the metros' cost-of-living indexes (125.8 in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, 136.5 in Charleston-North Charleston, SC, from EPI family budgets); taxes are compared separately below.
EPI's family budgets for a single adult put overall living costs 8.5% higher in Charleston-North Charleston, SC than in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN. The budgets cover housing, food, transportation, health care and other necessities.