Cost of Living: Norwalk, CT vs Chicago, IL

Quick rent-and-take-home comparison

Using a baseline of $70,000/yr gross, take-home is about $4,108/mo in Norwalk, CT versus $4,227/mo in Chicago, IL. In the model, rent is about 29.3% of gross in Norwalk, CT versus 20.28% in Chicago, IL, so Chicago, IL tends to feel more affordable for rent.

Take-home in Norwalk, CT
$4,108/mo
Income level: below
Take-home in Chicago, IL
$4,227/mo
Income level: above
Rent share (1BR) in Norwalk, CT
29.3%
COLI tier: mid-range
Rent share (1BR) in Chicago, IL
20.28%
COLI tier: mid-range

Compare cost of living, rent, housing prices, and salary affordability between Norwalk, CT and Chicago, IL.

At a glance

  • Cheaper overall (lower cost-of-living index): Chicago, IL
  • Lower rent (median 1BR/2BR): Chicago, IL
  • Lower home prices: Chicago, IL
  • Higher median household income: Norwalk, CT

Cost of Living Index

Norwalk, CT: 100 (U.S. = 100) · Chicago, IL: 98.3 (U.S. = 100)

Chicago, IL has a lower cost-of-living index than Norwalk, CT, so a given salary generally stretches further there.

Median Rent

Norwalk, CT: $1,910/mo (midpoint of 1BR/2BR) · Chicago, IL: $1,323/mo

Median rent in Norwalk, CT is $587/mo higher than in Chicago, IL.

Median Home Price

Norwalk, CT: $535,000 · Chicago, IL: $147,800

Median home price in Norwalk, CT is $387,200 higher than in Chicago, IL.

Median Household Income

Norwalk, CT: $105,301 · Chicago, IL: $56,815

Norwalk, CT has a higher median household income than Chicago, IL by $48,486.

Norwalk, CT overview · Chicago, IL overview · Popular comparisons