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Chicago vs Riverside: prices, pay and housing
| Chicago, IL | Riverside, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| BEA price parity (U.S. = 100) | 103.6 | 106.4 |
| Average salary, all jobs | $73,380 | $65,160 |
| Median salary, all jobs | $54,720 | $48,400 |
| Average salary adjusted for prices | $70,834 | $61,216 |
| Take-home on the average salary* | $56,962 | $52,396 |
| Typical home value | $353,998 | $585,378 |
| Median household income | $88,850 | $86,031 |
| Home price / household income | 4.0 | 6.8 |
| Metro population | 9,359,555 | 4,637,725 |
*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 Riverside
To keep the same standard of living when moving from Chicago to Riverside, multiply your salary by 1.027.
| Salary in Chicago | Same buying power in Riverside |
|---|---|
| $50,000 in Chicago | $51,374 in Riverside |
| $75,000 in Chicago | $77,061 in Riverside |
| $100,000 in Chicago | $102,748 in Riverside |
| $150,000 in Chicago | $154,122 in Riverside |
| $200,000 in Chicago | $205,496 in Riverside |
Salaries for common jobs in Chicago and Riverside
| Job | Chicago | Riverside | Adjusted for prices |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | $38,490 | $35,430 | $37,154 / $33,286 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $40,700 | $43,350 | $39,288 / $40,726 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $43,140 | $46,160 | $41,643 / $43,366 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $34,690 | $41,250 | $33,486 / $38,753 |
| Retail Salespersons | $39,370 | $41,230 | $38,004 / $38,735 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $65,170 | $64,130 | $62,908 / $60,249 |
| Cashiers | $35,760 | $38,650 | $34,519 / $36,311 |
| Registered Nurses | $97,930 | $136,670 | $94,532 / $128,399 |
| Office Clerks, General | $49,620 | $48,180 | $47,898 / $45,264 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $49,980 | $49,840 | $48,246 / $46,824 |
| General and Operations Managers | $143,740 | $126,430 | $138,752 / $118,778 |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | $39,820 | $46,310 | $38,438 / $43,507 |
| Security Guards | $44,360 | $42,090 | $42,821 / $39,543 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $35,650 | $45,660 | $34,413 / $42,897 |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | $41,400 | $44,240 | $39,963 / $41,563 |
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Average salary vs. price-adjusted salary
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Chicago vs Riverside: questions
Is Chicago more expensive than Riverside?
No. BEA prices are 103.6 in Chicago, IL and 106.4 in Riverside, CA (U.S. = 100).
What salary do I need in Riverside to match $100,000 in Chicago?
About $102,748, before taxes.
Where do salaries go further, Chicago or Riverside?
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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