Relocation: Duluth, MN-WI to Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
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 Duluth, MN-WI to Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN.
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.
Duluth, MN-WI
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Itemized Cost of Living Expenditure Arbitrage
Category-by-category breakdown of monthly baseline consumption between origin and destination.
| Expenditure Category | Duluth (Monthly) | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin (Monthly) | Monthly Delta ($) | Difference (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (1BR Fair Market Rent) | $961 | $1,780 | +$819 | +85.2% |
| Food & Groceries | $358 | $385 | +$27 | +7.5% |
| Transportation | $1,081 | $947 | -$134 | -12.4% |
| Healthcare | $442 | $416 | -$26 | -5.9% |
| Other Necessities | $354 | $572 | +$218 | +61.6% |
| Total Taxes (Federal, State, Local, FICA) | $2,175 | $2,135 | -$40 | -1.8% |
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 | Duluth Median | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin Median | Nominal Wage Delta | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General and Operations ManagersFinance & Management | Finance & Management | $85,930 | $109,390 | +$23,460 (+27.3%) | View Dossier |
| Registered Nurse (RN)Healthcare | Healthcare | $96,940 | $100,490 | +$3,550 (+3.7%) | View Dossier |
| Accountant & AuditorFinance | Finance | $77,400 | $82,360 | +$4,960 (+6.4%) | View Dossier |
| Financial ManagerFinance | Finance | $126,800 | $168,810 | +$42,010 (+33.1%) | View Dossier |
| Software EngineerTechnology | Technology | $103,500 | $134,380 | +$30,880 (+29.8%) | View Dossier |
| Management AnalystBusiness Operations | Business Operations | $88,610 | $105,090 | +$16,480 (+18.6%) | View Dossier |
| Sales ManagersFinance & Management | Finance & Management | $113,360 | $158,690 | +$45,330 (+40.0%) | View Dossier |
| Computer and Information Systems ManagersFinance & Management | Finance & Management | $149,710 | $173,760 | +$24,050 (+16.1%) | View Dossier |
| Quality Control InspectorIndustrial Manufacturing | Industrial Manufacturing | $59,920 | $48,230 | -$11,690 (-19.5%) | View Dossier |
| Project Management SpecialistBusiness Operations | Business Operations | $96,550 | $105,320 | +$8,770 (+9.1%) | View Dossier |
| ElectricianSkilled Trades | Skilled Trades | $82,700 | $102,350 | +$19,650 (+23.8%) | View Dossier |
| Marketing ManagersFinance & Management | Finance & Management | $142,080 | $165,340 | +$23,260 (+16.4%) | 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
Duluth, MN-WI to Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN Relocation FAQs
About $129,800. That scales $100,000 by the ratio of the metros' cost-of-living indexes (96.9 in Duluth, MN-WI, 125.8 in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, from EPI family budgets); taxes are compared separately below.
Duluth, MN-WI to Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN: State Paychecks, Rents & Reciprocal Corridor
Duluth, MN-WI to Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN: 2026 federal, state & local income tax, HUD Fair Market Rents & EPI living costs compared on the same salary. Official 2026 economic data for Relocation: Duluth, MN-WI to Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN compiled from Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS surveys, HUD Fair Market Rents, and statutory tax codes.
Quick answers
About $129,800. That scales $100,000 by the ratio of the metros' cost-of-living indexes (96.9 in Duluth, MN-WI, 125.8 in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, from EPI family budgets); taxes are compared separately below.
EPI's family budgets for a single adult put overall living costs 29.8% higher in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN than in Duluth, MN-WI. The budgets cover housing, food, transportation, health care and other necessities.