Relocation: Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN to Raleigh-Cary, NC
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 Raleigh-Cary, NC.
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
Raleigh-Cary, NC
Itemized Cost of Living Expenditure Arbitrage
Category-by-category breakdown of monthly baseline consumption between origin and destination.
| Expenditure Category | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin (Monthly) | Raleigh-Cary (Monthly) | Monthly Delta ($) | Difference (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (1BR Fair Market Rent) | $1,780 | $1,552 | -$228 | -12.8% |
| Food & Groceries | $385 | $382 | -$3 | -0.8% |
| Transportation | $947 | $1,109 | +$162 | +17.1% |
| Healthcare | $416 | $451 | +$35 | +8.4% |
| Other Necessities | $572 | $595 | +$23 | +4.0% |
| Total Taxes (Federal, State, Local, FICA) | $2,135 | $2,025 | -$110 | -5.2% |
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 | Raleigh-Cary Median | Nominal Wage Delta | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General and Operations ManagersFinance & Management | Finance & Management | $109,390 | $114,940 | +$5,550 (+5.1%) | View Dossier |
| Registered Nurse (RN)Healthcare | Healthcare | $100,490 | $84,830 | -$15,660 (-15.6%) | View Dossier |
| Software EngineerTechnology | Technology | $134,380 | $132,770 | -$1,610 (-1.2%) | View Dossier |
| Accountant & AuditorFinance | Finance | $82,360 | $81,950 | -$410 (-0.5%) | View Dossier |
| Financial ManagerFinance | Finance | $168,810 | $163,130 | -$5,680 (-3.4%) | View Dossier |
| Management AnalystBusiness Operations | Business Operations | $105,090 | $96,820 | -$8,270 (-7.9%) | View Dossier |
| Computer and Information Systems ManagersFinance & Management | Finance & Management | $173,760 | $173,960 | +$200 (+0.1%) | View Dossier |
| Project Management SpecialistBusiness Operations | Business Operations | $105,320 | $102,280 | -$3,040 (-2.9%) | View Dossier |
| Sales ManagersFinance & Management | Finance & Management | $158,690 | $163,520 | +$4,830 (+3.0%) | View Dossier |
| Quality Control InspectorIndustrial Manufacturing | Industrial Manufacturing | $48,230 | $49,460 | +$1,230 (+2.6%) | View Dossier |
| ElectricianSkilled Trades | Skilled Trades | $102,350 | $56,800 | -$45,550 (-44.5%) | View Dossier |
| Marketing ManagersFinance & Management | Finance & Management | $165,340 | $167,640 | +$2,300 (+1.4%) | 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 Raleigh-Cary, NC Relocation FAQs
About $108,300. That scales $100,000 by the ratio of the metros' cost-of-living indexes (125.8 in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, 136.2 in Raleigh-Cary, NC, from EPI family budgets); taxes are compared separately below.
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN to Raleigh-Cary, NC: State Paychecks, Rents & Reciprocal Corridor
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN to Raleigh-Cary, NC: 2026 federal, state & local income tax, HUD Fair Market Rents & EPI living costs compared on the same. Official 2026 economic data for Relocation: Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN to Raleigh-Cary, NC compiled from Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS surveys, HUD Fair Market Rents, and statutory tax codes.
Quick answers
About $108,300. That scales $100,000 by the ratio of the metros' cost-of-living indexes (125.8 in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, 136.2 in Raleigh-Cary, NC, from EPI family budgets); taxes are compared separately below.
EPI's family budgets for a single adult put overall living costs 8.3% higher in Raleigh-Cary, NC than in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN. The budgets cover housing, food, transportation, health care and other necessities.