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The most comprehensive cost of living comparison tool for US cities. Make informed relocation decisions with real data from trusted sources.

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ArlingtonvsChicago

Moving from Arlington to Chicago will save you approximately $101,499 on median home prices (16.2% less). Monthly rent is $423 cheaper in Chicago. Note that median income is 4.7% lower in Chicago.

Housing
16.2% cheaper
Rent
16.2% cheaper
View ArlingtonView Chicago
Chicago

Side-by-Side Comparison

Origin

Arlington, VA

Median Home Price$626,773
Monthly Rent$2,612
Median Income$76,830
Population229,164
Destination

Chicago, IL

Median Home Price
$525,274-16.2%
Monthly Rent
$2,189-16.2%
Median Income
$73,194-4.7%
Population2,720,556
Housing

Rent History & Trends

Understanding how rental prices have changed over time helps predict future affordability and make informed decisions about your move.

Arlington

2015$2,031
2020$2,029
2025$2,612

Chicago

2015$1,513
2020$1,592
2025$2,189

Annual Cost of Living

A comprehensive breakdown of annual living expenses helps you budget effectively for your new life in Chicago.

Arlington

Housing$9,841
Food$6,038
Transport$13,096
Healthcare$10,514
Total$56,039

Chicago

Housing$7,516
Food$5,442
Transport$13,003
Healthcare$12,465
Total$50,964
Costs

Key Insights

16.2%
Housing Cost
cheaper in Chicago
$423
Monthly Rent Difference
savings per month
4.7%
Income Level
lower median income

Demographics

Arlington

Population229,164
Median Age34.4 yrs
Violent Crime Rate226 per 100k
Property Crime Rate1449 per 100k

Chicago

Population2,720,556
Median Age34.2 yrs
Violent Crime Rate345 per 100k
Property Crime Rate1393 per 100k

Safety & Crime Statistics

Arlington

226
Violent Crime Rate (per 100k)
1449
Property Crime Rate (per 100k)

Chicago

345
Violent Crime Rate (per 100k)
1393
Property Crime Rate (per 100k)

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in Chicago or Arlington?

Chicago is 16.2% cheaper for housing than Arlington. The median home price in Chicago is $525,274 compared to $626,773 in Arlington, a savings of $101,499.

What is the rent difference between Arlington and Chicago?

Monthly rent in Chicago averages $2,189, while Arlington averages $2,612. That's a savings of $423 per month, or $5,075 annually.

How do incomes compare between Arlington and Chicago?

The median household income in Chicago is $73,194, which is 4.7% lower than Arlington's median of $76,830.

Which city is safer: Arlington or Chicago?

Arlington has a violent crime rate of 226 per 100k residents, while Chicago has 345 per 100k. Arlington is statistically safer.

What is Estates?

Estates is a comprehensive cost of living comparison platform covering over 3,900 US cities. We help you compare housing prices, rent, income levels, crime rates, demographics, and climate data to make informed relocation decisions. Our data comes from trusted sources including Zillow, the U.S. Census Bureau, FBI, and NOAA.