Been feeling the strain on your wallet lately? It’s not in your head—Chicago is among the most overpriced US cities according to a recent study.
The Windy City ranked 7th in a survey of the 10 most overpriced US cities compiled by home goods manufacturer Highland Cabinetry.
The study evaluated which US cities aren’t aligned with comfortable living, comparing factors like average monthly rent and cost of living with wages, unemployment rates, and other metrics.
Chicago outranks San Francisco for monthly cost of living
Chicago ranked below major cities like New York and Los Angeles for monthly cost of living but outranked Houston, Miami, and even San Francisco.
According to the study, Chicago’s average monthly rent + cost of living sits at $3,704, compared to a median household income of $74,474.
While Chicago ranked lower on the list overall, the Windy City ranked among the top 3 cities for unemployment with a sky high rate of 5.3%
Chicago ranks lower for traffic and pollution
While Chicago’s unemployment rate was among the highest in the study, the Windy City boasted lower rates of traffic and pollution than many of the other featured cities.
Chicago received a traffic index score of 189.12, well below that of Los Angeles, Detroit, and San Francisco. Chi-town’s pollution score of 50.69 fell below New York City, Los Angeles, and Houston.
So in short, Chicago isn’t getting any cheaper any time soon—but at least you’re overpaying for cleaner air and a (slightly) smoother commute!
