Rent vs Buy in Chicago, IL

Chicago, IL Assumptions

Home Purchase
Ongoing Costs
Rental
Growth
Tax
Projection

Buy Net Worth

Rent Net Worth

Break-Even

Verdict

Net Worth Over Time — Chicago, IL

Year-by-Year Comparison

Year-by-year rent vs buy comparison for Chicago, IL
Year Buy
Net Worth
Rent
Net Worth
Difference Monthly
Buy Cost
Monthly
Rent

Cities & Towns in Chicago, IL

This calculator's defaults reflect the broader Chicago, IL metropolitan area, including:

  • Chicago
  • Naperville
  • Aurora
  • Joliet
  • Evanston
  • Schaumburg
  • Oak Park
  • Arlington Heights
  • Wheaton
  • Skokie
  • Hinsdale
  • Hoffman Estates
  • Bolingbrook

Region: Midwest. Housing cost-of-living index: 118 (national avg = 100). Composite cost-of-living: 109.

About this Chicago, IL estimate

The default home price and rent come from the Chicago, IL metropolitan area's housing cost-of-living index applied to national 2025 medians ($420,000 home, $1,850/mo rent for a typical 2-3 BR). The property tax rate is the average effective rate for Illinois per the Tax Foundation. These are starting points — adjust to match your specific listing, neighborhood, and tax bill.