Cost of Living Calculator

The Cost of Living Calculator for Chicago varies by neighborhood.

Like the comparatively cosmopolitan European city of Paris, Chicago is a city of neighborhoods. Some neighborhoods have been 'gentrified' and are already demanding high rent and sales prices, others are more midlevel and affordable, and quite often the best buys can be found in marginal areas where improvements have begun but where the neighborhood is still in need of some 'tender loving care'.

Chicago neighborhood pricing can be judged primarily by its proximity to downtown (the Loop), the Lake, and public transportation including the 'el' or elevated trains, the Metra commuter train system, or the extensive bus routes that crisscross the city.

Factors to consider in cost of living index calculator figures:

1. Transportation to and from – living downtown can save commuter fees, auto leasing, upkeep and insurance
2. Weather related inconvenience – snow happens in Illinois and getting in and out of the city can be difficult a few times a year on average. While staying in the city can be inconvenient, getting into it can be very difficult at times
3. Entertainment and events – there's always music, food, dancing and occasionally a parade in Chicago, and a lot of it is free. Commuters have plenty of parking facilities if you're willing to pay for it

Try these free cost of living calculators we've selected for you:

http://swz.salary.com/CostOfLivingWizard/layouthtmls/coll_metrodetail_34.html
Chicago Cost of Living Calculator. City of Chicago, Illinois Relocation Calculator & Index. Illinois Chicago Cost of Living comparison

http://cgi.money.cnn.com/tools/costofliving/costofliving.html
CNN Money: How far will my salary go in another city?

http://www.bls.gov/cpi
The Consumer Price Indexes (CPI) program produces monthly data on changes in the prices paid by urban consumers for a representative basket of goods and services

http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/June-2007/South-Loop-Rising/Cost-of-Living
Read this article from ChicagoMag.com: "Cost of Living: How South Loop housing compares with three other neighborhoods"

Remember, the Cost of Living Comparison Calculator is offered as a guideline only and shouldn't be substituted for common sense and good judgment. If you're considering a move to Chicago from a smaller city you can be assured it will be more expensive to live, on a day by day basis, but the value and 'cost incurred' can be more personal than statistical.

A DMD Chicago Realty professional will be glad to discuss Chicago and its many suburbs with you to help you narrow down your search. Is the Chicagoland area the place to be? We think so!