Relocation: Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN to Wilmington, 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 Wilmington, 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
Wilmington, 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) | Wilmington (Monthly) | Monthly Delta ($) | Difference (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (1BR Fair Market Rent) | $1,780 | $1,566 | -$214 | -12.0% |
| Food & Groceries | $385 | $393 | +$8 | +2.1% |
| Transportation | $947 | $958 | +$11 | +1.2% |
| Healthcare | $416 | $518 | +$102 | +24.5% |
| Other Necessities | $572 | $458 | -$114 | -19.9% |
| 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 | Wilmington Median | Nominal Wage Delta | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General and Operations ManagersFinance & Management | Finance & Management | $109,390 | $90,270 | -$19,120 (-17.5%) | View Dossier |
| Registered Nurse (RN)Healthcare | Healthcare | $100,490 | $80,970 | -$19,520 (-19.4%) | View Dossier |
| Accountant & AuditorFinance | Finance | $82,360 | $77,920 | -$4,440 (-5.4%) | View Dossier |
| Financial ManagerFinance | Finance | $168,810 | $152,150 | -$16,660 (-9.9%) | View Dossier |
| Software EngineerTechnology | Technology | $134,380 | $123,730 | -$10,650 (-7.9%) | View Dossier |
| Management AnalystBusiness Operations | Business Operations | $105,090 | $86,960 | -$18,130 (-17.3%) | View Dossier |
| Sales ManagersFinance & Management | Finance & Management | $158,690 | $133,400 | -$25,290 (-15.9%) | View Dossier |
| Computer and Information Systems ManagersFinance & Management | Finance & Management | $173,760 | $160,980 | -$12,780 (-7.4%) | View Dossier |
| Quality Control InspectorIndustrial Manufacturing | Industrial Manufacturing | $48,230 | $57,840 | +$9,610 (+19.9%) | View Dossier |
| Project Management SpecialistBusiness Operations | Business Operations | $105,320 | $89,120 | -$16,200 (-15.4%) | View Dossier |
| ElectricianSkilled Trades | Skilled Trades | $102,350 | $54,080 | -$48,270 (-47.2%) | View Dossier |
| Marketing ManagersFinance & Management | Finance & Management | $165,340 | $153,860 | -$11,480 (-6.9%) | 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 Wilmington, NC Relocation FAQs
About $88,400. That scales $100,000 by the ratio of the metros' cost-of-living indexes (125.8 in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, 111.2 in Wilmington, NC, from EPI family budgets); taxes are compared separately below.
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN to Wilmington, NC: State Paychecks, Rents & Reciprocal Corridor
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN to Wilmington, 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 Wilmington, NC compiled from Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS surveys, HUD Fair Market Rents, and statutory tax codes.
Quick answers
About $88,400. That scales $100,000 by the ratio of the metros' cost-of-living indexes (125.8 in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, 111.2 in Wilmington, NC, from EPI family budgets); taxes are compared separately below.
EPI's family budgets for a single adult put overall living costs 11.6% lower in Wilmington, NC than in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN. The budgets cover housing, food, transportation, health care and other necessities.