Relocation: Memphis, TN-MS-AR 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 Memphis, TN-MS-AR 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.
Memphis, TN-MS-AR
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 | Memphis (Monthly) | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin (Monthly) | Monthly Delta ($) | Difference (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (1BR Fair Market Rent) | $1,191 | $1,780 | +$589 | +49.5% |
| Food & Groceries | $362 | $385 | +$23 | +6.4% |
| Transportation | $1,039 | $947 | -$92 | -8.9% |
| Healthcare | $487 | $416 | -$71 | -14.6% |
| Other Necessities | $456 | $572 | +$116 | +25.4% |
| Total Taxes (Federal, State, Local, FICA) | $1,735 | $2,135 | +$400 | +23.1% |
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 | Memphis Median | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin Median | Nominal Wage Delta | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General and Operations ManagersFinance & Management | Finance & Management | $102,510 | $109,390 | +$6,880 (+6.7%) | View Dossier |
| Registered Nurse (RN)Healthcare | Healthcare | $81,500 | $100,490 | +$18,990 (+23.3%) | View Dossier |
| Accountant & AuditorFinance | Finance | $76,960 | $82,360 | +$5,400 (+7.0%) | View Dossier |
| Financial ManagerFinance | Finance | $143,880 | $168,810 | +$24,930 (+17.3%) | View Dossier |
| Software EngineerTechnology | Technology | $125,580 | $134,380 | +$8,800 (+7.0%) | View Dossier |
| Management AnalystBusiness Operations | Business Operations | $94,980 | $105,090 | +$10,110 (+10.6%) | View Dossier |
| Sales ManagersFinance & Management | Finance & Management | $128,560 | $158,690 | +$30,130 (+23.4%) | View Dossier |
| Computer and Information Systems ManagersFinance & Management | Finance & Management | $161,790 | $173,760 | +$11,970 (+7.4%) | View Dossier |
| Quality Control InspectorIndustrial Manufacturing | Industrial Manufacturing | $44,910 | $48,230 | +$3,320 (+7.4%) | View Dossier |
| Project Management SpecialistBusiness Operations | Business Operations | $85,130 | $105,320 | +$20,190 (+23.7%) | View Dossier |
| ElectricianSkilled Trades | Skilled Trades | $60,890 | $102,350 | +$41,460 (+68.1%) | View Dossier |
| Medical and Health Services ManagersFinance & Management | Finance & Management | $112,800 | $123,090 | +$10,290 (+9.1%) | 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
Memphis, TN-MS-AR to Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN Relocation FAQs
About $117,700. That scales $100,000 by the ratio of the metros' cost-of-living indexes (106.9 in Memphis, TN-MS-AR, 125.8 in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, from EPI family budgets); taxes are compared separately below.
Memphis, TN-MS-AR to Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN: State Paychecks, Rents & Reciprocal Corridor
Memphis, TN-MS-AR to Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN: 2026 federal, state & local income tax, HUD Fair Market Rents & EPI living costs compared on the same. Official 2026 economic data for Relocation: Memphis, TN-MS-AR 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 $117,700. That scales $100,000 by the ratio of the metros' cost-of-living indexes (106.9 in Memphis, TN-MS-AR, 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 17.7% higher in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN than in Memphis, TN-MS-AR. The budgets cover housing, food, transportation, health care and other necessities.