I don’t know about you, but I have been programmed to link big city with a big cost of living.  This factor can deter people from considering a move to a big city.  You might be pleasantly surprised to find out that Chicago is not one of those cities.  When I think of the top five biggest cities in the United States these are the ones that come to mind:

  1. New York, NY
  2. Los Angeles, CA
  3. Chicago, IL
  4. Washington D.C.
  5. Boston, MA

Of those five cities, Chicago’s cost of living is basically par to the national average.  I found this neat resource at www.areavibes.com that gives you ratings and different indexes to gauge how livable a city is.  Compare Chicago to Washington D.C. at 118, New York City at 148, Los Angeles metro at 127, and Boston at 132 you will find that the cost of living in the financial center of Illinois is more than affordable, and makes for a convincing argument.

Chicago cost of living index

to see more http://www.areavibes.com/chicago-il/cost-of-living/

Index Chicago Illinois National
Cost of living index 104 95 100
Goods & Services index 103 98 100
Groceries index 116 98 100
Health care index 107 99 100
Housing index 99 87 100
Transportation index 113 104 100
Utilities index 99 100 100

 

Still not convinced about a relocation to Chicago? Think about all that this amazing city has to offer- a historical city with an abundance of culture, diversity, a thriving industry, and a great place for families. When you take all of that in mind, the fact the living in Chicago is no more expensive than living in a rural town, then I think the decision is clear.