Relocation: Raleigh-Cary, NC 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 Raleigh-Cary, NC 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.
Raleigh-Cary, NC
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 | Raleigh-Cary (Monthly) | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin (Monthly) | Monthly Delta ($) | Difference (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (1BR Fair Market Rent) | $1,552 | $1,780 | +$228 | +14.7% |
| Food & Groceries | $382 | $385 | +$3 | +0.8% |
| Transportation | $1,109 | $947 | -$162 | -14.6% |
| Healthcare | $451 | $416 | -$35 | -7.8% |
| Other Necessities | $595 | $572 | -$23 | -3.9% |
| Total Taxes (Federal, State, Local, FICA) | $2,025 | $2,135 | +$110 | +5.4% |
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 | Raleigh-Cary Median | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin Median | Nominal Wage Delta | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General and Operations ManagersFinance & Management | Finance & Management | $114,940 | $109,390 | -$5,550 (-4.8%) | View Dossier |
| Registered Nurse (RN)Healthcare | Healthcare | $84,830 | $100,490 | +$15,660 (+18.5%) | View Dossier |
| Software EngineerTechnology | Technology | $132,770 | $134,380 | +$1,610 (+1.2%) | View Dossier |
| Accountant & AuditorFinance | Finance | $81,950 | $82,360 | +$410 (+0.5%) | View Dossier |
| Financial ManagerFinance | Finance | $163,130 | $168,810 | +$5,680 (+3.5%) | View Dossier |
| Management AnalystBusiness Operations | Business Operations | $96,820 | $105,090 | +$8,270 (+8.5%) | View Dossier |
| Computer and Information Systems ManagersFinance & Management | Finance & Management | $173,960 | $173,760 | -$200 (-0.1%) | View Dossier |
| Project Management SpecialistBusiness Operations | Business Operations | $102,280 | $105,320 | +$3,040 (+3.0%) | View Dossier |
| Sales ManagersFinance & Management | Finance & Management | $163,520 | $158,690 | -$4,830 (-3.0%) | View Dossier |
| Quality Control InspectorIndustrial Manufacturing | Industrial Manufacturing | $49,460 | $48,230 | -$1,230 (-2.5%) | View Dossier |
| ElectricianSkilled Trades | Skilled Trades | $56,800 | $102,350 | +$45,550 (+80.2%) | View Dossier |
| Marketing ManagersFinance & Management | Finance & Management | $167,640 | $165,340 | -$2,300 (-1.4%) | 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
Raleigh-Cary, NC to Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN Relocation FAQs
About $92,300. That scales $100,000 by the ratio of the metros' cost-of-living indexes (136.2 in Raleigh-Cary, NC, 125.8 in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, from EPI family budgets); taxes are compared separately below.
Raleigh-Cary, NC to Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN: State Paychecks, Rents & Reciprocal Corridor
Raleigh-Cary, NC 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: Raleigh-Cary, NC 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 $92,300. That scales $100,000 by the ratio of the metros' cost-of-living indexes (136.2 in Raleigh-Cary, NC, 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 7.7% lower in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN than in Raleigh-Cary, NC. The budgets cover housing, food, transportation, health care and other necessities.