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Data sourced from US Census, BLS, DOT, EPA, Zillow (aggregated)

Last updated: Feb 2026

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RockvillevsChicago

Last updated: Feb 2026
Data Methodology

Moving from Rockville to Chicago will save you approximately $38,080 on median home prices (6.8% less). Monthly rent is $159 cheaper in Chicago. Note that median income is 23.9% lower in Chicago.

Housing
6.8% cheaper
Rent
6.8% cheaper
View RockvilleView Chicago
Chicago

Side-by-Side Comparison

Origin

Rockville, MD

Median Home Price$563,354
Monthly Rent$2,347
Median Income$96,138
Population66,998
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Destination

Chicago, IL

Median Home Price
$525,274-6.8%
Monthly Rent
$2,189-6.8%
Median Income
$73,194-23.9%
Population2,720,556
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Cities Location Map

Housing

Rent History & Trends

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

Rockville

2015$1,841
2020$1,859
2025$2,347

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.

Rockville

Housing$12,376
Food$6,344
Transport$13,060
Healthcare$7,146
Total$52,868

Chicago

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

Key Insights

6.8%
Housing Cost
cheaper in Chicago
$159
Monthly Rent Difference
savings per month
23.9%
Income Level
lower median income

Demographics

Rockville

Population66,998
Median Age38.1 yrs
Violent Crime Rate435 per 100k
Property Crime Rate1522 per 100k

Chicago

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

Safety & Crime Statistics

Rockville

435
Violent Crime Rate (per 100k)
1522
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 Rockville?

Chicago is 6.8% cheaper for housing than Rockville. The median home price in Chicago is $525,274 compared to $563,354 in Rockville, a savings of $38,080.

What is the rent difference between Rockville and Chicago?

Monthly rent in Chicago averages $2,189, while Rockville averages $2,347. That's a savings of $159 per month, or $1,904 annually.

How do incomes compare between Rockville and Chicago?

The median household income in Chicago is $73,194, which is 23.9% lower than Rockville's median of $96,138.

Which city is safer: Rockville or Chicago?

Rockville has a violent crime rate of 435 per 100k residents, while Chicago has 345 per 100k. Chicago 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.

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