Relocation: Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN to Worcester, MA
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 Worcester, MA.
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
Worcester, MA
Itemized Cost of Living Expenditure Arbitrage
Category-by-category breakdown of monthly baseline consumption between origin and destination.
| Expenditure Category | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin (Monthly) | Worcester (Monthly) | Monthly Delta ($) | Difference (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (1BR Fair Market Rent) | $1,780 | $1,587 | -$193 | -10.8% |
| Food & Groceries | $385 | $386 | +$1 | +0.3% |
| Transportation | $947 | $1,085 | +$138 | +14.6% |
| Healthcare | $416 | $420 | +$4 | +1.0% |
| Other Necessities | $572 | $563 | -$9 | -1.6% |
| Total Taxes (Federal, State, Local, FICA) | $2,135 | $2,133 | -$2 | -0.1% |
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 | Worcester Median | Nominal Wage Delta | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General and Operations ManagersFinance & Management | Finance & Management | $109,390 | $111,900 | +$2,510 (+2.3%) | View Dossier |
| Registered Nurse (RN)Healthcare | Healthcare | $100,490 | $100,240 | -$250 (-0.2%) | View Dossier |
| Accountant & AuditorFinance | Finance | $82,360 | $94,070 | +$11,710 (+14.2%) | View Dossier |
| Financial ManagerFinance | Finance | $168,810 | $170,940 | +$2,130 (+1.3%) | View Dossier |
| Software EngineerTechnology | Technology | $134,380 | $146,950 | +$12,570 (+9.4%) | View Dossier |
| Management AnalystBusiness Operations | Business Operations | $105,090 | $122,180 | +$17,090 (+16.3%) | View Dossier |
| Sales ManagersFinance & Management | Finance & Management | $158,690 | $162,810 | +$4,120 (+2.6%) | View Dossier |
| Computer and Information Systems ManagersFinance & Management | Finance & Management | $173,760 | $193,890 | +$20,130 (+11.6%) | View Dossier |
| Quality Control InspectorIndustrial Manufacturing | Industrial Manufacturing | $48,230 | $49,660 | +$1,430 (+3.0%) | View Dossier |
| Project Management SpecialistBusiness Operations | Business Operations | $105,320 | $100,290 | -$5,030 (-4.8%) | View Dossier |
| ElectricianSkilled Trades | Skilled Trades | $102,350 | $75,510 | -$26,840 (-26.2%) | View Dossier |
| Medical and Health Services ManagersFinance & Management | Finance & Management | $123,090 | $125,890 | +$2,800 (+2.3%) | 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 Worcester, MA Relocation FAQs
About $102,300. That scales $100,000 by the ratio of the metros' cost-of-living indexes (125.8 in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, 128.7 in Worcester, MA, from EPI family budgets); taxes are compared separately below.
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN to Worcester, MA: State Paychecks, Rents & Reciprocal Corridor
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN to Worcester, MA: 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 Worcester, MA compiled from Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS surveys, HUD Fair Market Rents, and statutory tax codes.
Quick answers
About $102,300. That scales $100,000 by the ratio of the metros' cost-of-living indexes (125.8 in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, 128.7 in Worcester, MA, from EPI family budgets); taxes are compared separately below.
EPI's family budgets for a single adult put overall living costs 2.3% higher in Worcester, MA than in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN. The budgets cover housing, food, transportation, health care and other necessities.