Relocation: Minneapolis Metro, MN-WI to Chicago Metro, 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 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, 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.
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, 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 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington (Monthly) | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin (Monthly) | Monthly Delta ($) | Difference (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (1BR Fair Market Rent) | $1,427 | $1,780 | +$353 | +24.7% |
| Food & Groceries | $405 | $385 | -$20 | -4.9% |
| Transportation | $1,061 | $947 | -$114 | -10.7% |
| Healthcare | $361 | $416 | +$55 | +15.2% |
| Other Necessities | $505 | $572 | +$67 | +13.3% |
| 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 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington Median | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin Median | Nominal Wage Delta | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General and Operations ManagersFinance & Management | Finance & Management | $103,570 | $109,390 | +$5,820 (+5.6%) | View Dossier |
| Registered Nurse (RN)Healthcare | Healthcare | $103,040 | $100,490 | -$2,550 (-2.5%) | View Dossier |
| Software EngineerTechnology | Technology | $130,920 | $134,380 | +$3,460 (+2.6%) | View Dossier |
| Accountant & AuditorFinance | Finance | $86,500 | $82,360 | -$4,140 (-4.8%) | View Dossier |
| Management AnalystBusiness Operations | Business Operations | $101,560 | $105,090 | +$3,530 (+3.5%) | View Dossier |
| Financial ManagerFinance | Finance | $165,620 | $168,810 | +$3,190 (+1.9%) | View Dossier |
| Project Management SpecialistBusiness Operations | Business Operations | $97,860 | $105,320 | +$7,460 (+7.6%) | View Dossier |
| Sales ManagersFinance & Management | Finance & Management | $158,100 | $158,690 | +$590 (+0.4%) | View Dossier |
| Computer and Information Systems ManagersFinance & Management | Finance & Management | $178,080 | $173,760 | -$4,320 (-2.4%) | View Dossier |
| Quality Control InspectorIndustrial Manufacturing | Industrial Manufacturing | $58,900 | $48,230 | -$10,670 (-18.1%) | View Dossier |
| ElectricianSkilled Trades | Skilled Trades | $81,890 | $102,350 | +$20,460 (+25.0%) | View Dossier |
| Medical and Health Services ManagersFinance & Management | Finance & Management | $126,880 | $123,090 | -$3,790 (-3.0%) | 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
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI to Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN Relocation FAQs
About $108,700. That scales $100,000 by the ratio of the metros' cost-of-living indexes (115.8 in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI, 125.8 in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, from EPI family budgets); taxes are compared separately below.
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI to Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN: State Paychecks, Rents & Reciprocal Corridor
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI to Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN: 2026 federal, state & local income tax, HUD Fair Market Rents & EPI living costs. Official 2026 economic data for Relocation: Minneapolis Metro, MN-WI to Chicago Metro, IL-IN compiled from Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS surveys, HUD Fair Market Rents, and statutory tax codes.
Quick answers
About $108,700. That scales $100,000 by the ratio of the metros' cost-of-living indexes (115.8 in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, 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 8.7% higher in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN than in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI. The budgets cover housing, food, transportation, health care and other necessities.