Relocation: Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN to Dubuque, IA
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 Dubuque, IA.
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
Dubuque, IA
Itemized Cost of Living Expenditure Arbitrage
Category-by-category breakdown of monthly baseline consumption between origin and destination.
| Expenditure Category | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin (Monthly) | Dubuque (Monthly) | Monthly Delta ($) | Difference (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (1BR Fair Market Rent) | $1,780 | $891 | -$889 | -49.9% |
| Food & Groceries | $385 | $357 | -$28 | -7.3% |
| Transportation | $947 | $1,088 | +$141 | +14.9% |
| Healthcare | $416 | $393 | -$23 | -5.5% |
| Other Necessities | $572 | $335 | -$237 | -41.4% |
| Total Taxes (Federal, State, Local, FICA) | $2,135 | $1,997 | -$138 | -6.5% |
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 | Dubuque Median | Nominal Wage Delta | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General and Operations ManagersFinance & Management | Finance & Management | $109,390 | $92,530 | -$16,860 (-15.4%) | View Dossier |
| Registered Nurse (RN)Healthcare | Healthcare | $100,490 | $76,790 | -$23,700 (-23.6%) | View Dossier |
| Financial ManagerFinance | Finance | $168,810 | $126,980 | -$41,830 (-24.8%) | View Dossier |
| Accountant & AuditorFinance | Finance | $82,360 | $74,140 | -$8,220 (-10.0%) | View Dossier |
| Software EngineerTechnology | Technology | $134,380 | $105,360 | -$29,020 (-21.6%) | View Dossier |
| Management AnalystBusiness Operations | Business Operations | $105,090 | $73,960 | -$31,130 (-29.6%) | View Dossier |
| Sales ManagersFinance & Management | Finance & Management | $158,690 | $130,980 | -$27,710 (-17.5%) | View Dossier |
| Computer and Information Systems ManagersFinance & Management | Finance & Management | $173,760 | $136,670 | -$37,090 (-21.3%) | View Dossier |
| Quality Control InspectorIndustrial Manufacturing | Industrial Manufacturing | $48,230 | $49,800 | +$1,570 (+3.3%) | View Dossier |
| Project Management SpecialistBusiness Operations | Business Operations | $105,320 | $104,690 | -$630 (-0.6%) | View Dossier |
| ElectricianSkilled Trades | Skilled Trades | $102,350 | $62,110 | -$40,240 (-39.3%) | View Dossier |
| Marketing ManagersFinance & Management | Finance & Management | $165,340 | $127,280 | -$38,060 (-23.0%) | 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 Dubuque, IA Relocation FAQs
About $74,200. That scales $100,000 by the ratio of the metros' cost-of-living indexes (125.8 in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, 93.3 in Dubuque, IA, from EPI family budgets); taxes are compared separately below.
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN to Dubuque, IA: State Paychecks, Rents & Reciprocal Corridor
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN to Dubuque, IA: 2026 federal, state & local income tax, HUD Fair Market Rents & EPI living costs compared on the same salary. Official 2026 economic data for Relocation: Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN to Dubuque, IA compiled from Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS surveys, HUD Fair Market Rents, and statutory tax codes.
Quick answers
About $74,200. That scales $100,000 by the ratio of the metros' cost-of-living indexes (125.8 in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, 93.3 in Dubuque, IA, from EPI family budgets); taxes are compared separately below.
EPI's family budgets for a single adult put overall living costs 25.8% lower in Dubuque, IA than in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN. The budgets cover housing, food, transportation, health care and other necessities.