Relocation: Madison, 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 Madison, 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.
Madison, 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 | Madison (Monthly) | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin (Monthly) | Monthly Delta ($) | Difference (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (1BR Fair Market Rent) | $1,375 | $1,780 | +$405 | +29.5% |
| Food & Groceries | $387 | $385 | -$2 | -0.5% |
| Transportation | $1,027 | $947 | -$80 | -7.8% |
| Healthcare | $386 | $416 | +$30 | +7.8% |
| Other Necessities | $455 | $572 | +$117 | +25.7% |
| Total Taxes (Federal, State, Local, FICA) | $2,104 | $2,135 | +$31 | +1.5% |
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 | Madison Median | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin Median | Nominal Wage Delta | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General and Operations ManagersFinance & Management | Finance & Management | $126,620 | $109,390 | -$17,230 (-13.6%) | View Dossier |
| Registered Nurse (RN)Healthcare | Healthcare | $101,190 | $100,490 | -$700 (-0.7%) | View Dossier |
| Software EngineerTechnology | Technology | $130,630 | $134,380 | +$3,750 (+2.9%) | View Dossier |
| Accountant & AuditorFinance | Finance | $81,130 | $82,360 | +$1,230 (+1.5%) | View Dossier |
| Financial ManagerFinance | Finance | $148,970 | $168,810 | +$19,840 (+13.3%) | View Dossier |
| Management AnalystBusiness Operations | Business Operations | $97,170 | $105,090 | +$7,920 (+8.2%) | View Dossier |
| Computer and Information Systems ManagersFinance & Management | Finance & Management | $168,900 | $173,760 | +$4,860 (+2.9%) | View Dossier |
| Sales ManagersFinance & Management | Finance & Management | $146,380 | $158,690 | +$12,310 (+8.4%) | View Dossier |
| Project Management SpecialistBusiness Operations | Business Operations | $98,990 | $105,320 | +$6,330 (+6.4%) | View Dossier |
| Quality Control InspectorIndustrial Manufacturing | Industrial Manufacturing | $53,940 | $48,230 | -$5,710 (-10.6%) | View Dossier |
| ElectricianSkilled Trades | Skilled Trades | $78,430 | $102,350 | +$23,920 (+30.5%) | View Dossier |
| Marketing ManagersFinance & Management | Finance & Management | $138,270 | $165,340 | +$27,070 (+19.6%) | 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
Madison, WI to Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN Relocation FAQs
About $116,300. That scales $100,000 by the ratio of the metros' cost-of-living indexes (108.1 in Madison, WI, 125.8 in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, from EPI family budgets); taxes are compared separately below.
Madison, WI to Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN: State Paychecks, Rents & Reciprocal Corridor
Madison, 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: Madison, 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 $116,300. That scales $100,000 by the ratio of the metros' cost-of-living indexes (108.1 in Madison, 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 16.3% higher in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN than in Madison, WI. The budgets cover housing, food, transportation, health care and other necessities.