Relocation: Rochester, MN 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 Rochester, MN 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.
Rochester, MN
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 | Rochester (Monthly) | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin (Monthly) | Monthly Delta ($) | Difference (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (1BR Fair Market Rent) | $1,226 | $1,780 | +$554 | +45.2% |
| Food & Groceries | $371 | $385 | +$14 | +3.8% |
| Transportation | $1,121 | $947 | -$174 | -15.5% |
| Healthcare | $557 | $416 | -$141 | -25.3% |
| Other Necessities | $422 | $572 | +$150 | +35.5% |
| 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 | Rochester Median | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin Median | Nominal Wage Delta | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General and Operations ManagersFinance & Management | Finance & Management | $85,650 | $109,390 | +$23,740 (+27.7%) | View Dossier |
| Registered Nurse (RN)Healthcare | Healthcare | $101,660 | $100,490 | -$1,170 (-1.2%) | View Dossier |
| Software EngineerTechnology | Technology | $134,450 | $134,380 | -$70 (-0.1%) | View Dossier |
| Accountant & AuditorFinance | Finance | $83,960 | $82,360 | -$1,600 (-1.9%) | View Dossier |
| Financial ManagerFinance | Finance | $158,570 | $168,810 | +$10,240 (+6.5%) | View Dossier |
| Management AnalystBusiness Operations | Business Operations | $108,560 | $105,090 | -$3,470 (-3.2%) | View Dossier |
| Sales ManagersFinance & Management | Finance & Management | $127,500 | $158,690 | +$31,190 (+24.5%) | View Dossier |
| Computer and Information Systems ManagersFinance & Management | Finance & Management | $177,620 | $173,760 | -$3,860 (-2.2%) | View Dossier |
| Quality Control InspectorIndustrial Manufacturing | Industrial Manufacturing | $59,850 | $48,230 | -$11,620 (-19.4%) | View Dossier |
| Project Management SpecialistBusiness Operations | Business Operations | $106,270 | $105,320 | -$950 (-0.9%) | View Dossier |
| ElectricianSkilled Trades | Skilled Trades | $79,650 | $102,350 | +$22,700 (+28.5%) | View Dossier |
| Marketing ManagersFinance & Management | Finance & Management | $175,280 | $165,340 | -$9,940 (-5.7%) | 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
Rochester, MN to Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN Relocation FAQs
About $112,200. That scales $100,000 by the ratio of the metros' cost-of-living indexes (112.2 in Rochester, MN, 125.8 in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, from EPI family budgets); taxes are compared separately below.
Rochester, MN to Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN: State Paychecks, Rents & Reciprocal Corridor
Rochester, MN 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: Rochester, MN 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 $112,200. That scales $100,000 by the ratio of the metros' cost-of-living indexes (112.2 in Rochester, MN, 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 12.2% higher in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN than in Rochester, MN. The budgets cover housing, food, transportation, health care and other necessities.