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Chicago vs Dallas: prices, pay and housing
| Chicago, IL | Dallas, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| BEA price parity (U.S. = 100) | 103.6 | 103.1 |
| Average salary, all jobs | $73,380 | $70,630 |
| Median salary, all jobs | $54,720 | $51,440 |
| Average salary adjusted for prices | $70,834 | $68,513 |
| Take-home on the average salary* | $56,962 | $58,518 |
| Typical home value | $353,998 | $366,823 |
| Median household income | $88,850 | $87,155 |
| Home price / household income | 4.0 | 4.2 |
| Metro population | 9,359,555 | 7,807,555 |
*Single filer, federal and state income tax and FICA (2026 rules); city income taxes included where we model them.
Compare with another city or state
Equivalent salary: Chicago to Dallas
To keep the same standard of living when moving from Chicago to Dallas, multiply your salary by 0.995.
| Salary in Chicago | Same buying power in Dallas |
|---|---|
| $50,000 in Chicago | $49,756 in Dallas |
| $75,000 in Chicago | $74,634 in Dallas |
| $100,000 in Chicago | $99,513 in Dallas |
| $150,000 in Chicago | $149,269 in Dallas |
| $200,000 in Chicago | $199,025 in Dallas |
Salaries for common jobs in Chicago and Dallas
| Job | Chicago | Dallas | Adjusted for prices |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $34,690 | $29,350 | $33,486 / $28,470 |
| General and Operations Managers | $143,740 | $139,120 | $138,752 / $134,950 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $40,700 | $40,140 | $39,288 / $38,937 |
| Retail Salespersons | $39,370 | $35,160 | $38,004 / $34,106 |
| Customer Service Representatives | $49,800 | $46,210 | $48,072 / $44,825 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $43,140 | $40,830 | $41,643 / $39,606 |
| Registered Nurses | $97,930 | $100,820 | $94,532 / $97,798 |
| Software Developers | $141,640 | $138,810 | $136,725 / $134,649 |
| Cashiers | $35,760 | $30,290 | $34,519 / $29,382 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | $38,490 | $28,460 | $37,154 / $27,607 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $65,170 | $62,720 | $62,908 / $60,840 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $35,650 | $30,530 | $34,413 / $29,615 |
| Office Clerks, General | $49,620 | $45,400 | $47,898 / $44,039 |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | $41,400 | $35,470 | $39,963 / $34,407 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $74,970 | $76,180 | $72,368 / $73,897 |
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Average salary vs. price-adjusted salary
More cost of living comparisons
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Chicago vs Dallas: questions
Is Chicago more expensive than Dallas?
Yes. BEA prices are 103.6 in Chicago, IL and 103.1 in Dallas, TX (U.S. = 100).
What salary do I need in Dallas to match $100,000 in Chicago?
About $99,513, before taxes.
Where do salaries go further, Chicago or Dallas?
Chicago, IL: once prices are counted, its average salary buys more.
Sources and how to read this page
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas.
- Home values: Zillow Home Value Index; income and population: Census ACS 5-year 2023.
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