Wondering how far your dollar stretches in Alexandria compared to Chicago? Below we break down housing costs, rent, taxes, income, and quality of life using 2026 data so you can make an informed relocation or remote-work decision. Every number is computed from Census, BLS, and Zillow data specific to these two metro areas.
| Alexandria | Metric | Chicago | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 142 | Cost of Living Index | 114 | -19.7% |
| $625,000 | Median Home Price | $315,000 | -49.6% |
| $2,200 | Median Monthly Rent | $2,288 | +4.0% |
| $108,500 | Median Household Income | $70,100 | -35.4% |
| 1.0% | Property Tax Rate | 2.1% | +110.0% |
| 3.2% | Unemployment Rate | 4.6% | +43.7% |
| 30 min | Average Commute | 31 min | +3.3% |
| 36.2 | Median Age | 36.7 | +1.4% |
| 162,000 | Metro Population | 9,560,000 | +5801.2% |
Data sourced from Census Bureau, BLS, Zillow, and ApartmentAdvisor (2024-2025). COL Index: 100 = national average.
Monthly mortgage assumes 6.5% interest, 30-year fixed, 20.0%down payment. PITI includes principal, interest, property tax, and homeowner's insurance.
Buying a home in Alexandria costs $3,863/month (PITI) compared to $2,236/month in Chicago — a difference of $1,627/month or $19,524/year. The price-to-income ratio is 5.8x in Alexandria versus 4.5x in Chicago, suggesting Chicago is relatively more affordable for homebuyers relative to local incomes. At a 15% savings rate, it takes 7.7 years to save a down payment in Alexandria compared to 6.0 years in Chicago.
Estimated on each city's median household income, single filer, standard deduction, 2025 rates.
| Tax Category | Alexandria | Chicago |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Income | $108,500 | $70,100 |
| State Income Tax | $5,439 | $3,329 |
| Federal Income Tax | $15,319 | $6,871 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | $8,300 | $5,362 |
| Property Tax (on median home) | $6,250/yr | $6,615/yr |
| State Sales Tax Rate | 5.3% | 6.3% |
| Total Tax Burden | $29,058 (26.8%) | $15,562 (22.2%) |
| Take-Home Pay | $79,442 | $54,538 |
On median household income, total taxes (federal + state + FICA) come to $29,058 in Alexandria (26.8% effective) versus $15,562 in Chicago (22.2% effective). After taxes, take-home pay is $79,442 in Alexandria and $54,538 in Chicago. Property taxes add $6,250/year on the median Alexandria home versus $6,615/year in Chicago.
These figures adjust for cost of living using the formula: adjusted = salary × (COL_destination / COL_origin). If you earn $108,500 in Alexandria (COL 142) and relocate to Chicago (COL 114), you would need $87,106 to maintain the same purchasing power. This means you can take a pay cut of $21,394 and still maintain your lifestyle in Chicago.
Beyond costs, quality of life matters. The average commute in Alexandria is 30 minutes versus 31 minutes in Chicago, a difference of 1 minutes each way. Alexandria's lower unemployment rate of 3.2% versus 4.6% suggests a stronger job market. Chicago skews slightly older with a median age of 36.7 vs 36.2 in Alexandria.
Alexandria is 19.7% more expensive than Chicago overall. Alexandria has a cost of living index of 142 compared to 114 for Chicago (national average = 100). The biggest difference is housing: the median home costs $625,000 in Alexandria vs $315,000 in Chicago.
The median home price in Alexandria is $625,000, which is $310,000 more than Chicago's median of $315,000. Monthly rent follows a similar pattern: $2,200/month in Alexandria vs $2,288/month in Chicago, a difference of $88/month or $1,056/year.
To maintain the same standard of living, a $108,500 salary in Alexandria is equivalent to $87,106 in Chicago. This is based on the cost of living index ratio: Alexandria's COL index of 142 vs Chicago's 114. Conversely, $70,100 in Chicago equals $87,318 in Alexandria.
On a median household income, the combined federal, state, and FICA tax burden is $29,058 (26.8% effective rate) in Alexandria vs $15,562 (22.2% effective rate) in Chicago. Property taxes on the median home are $6,250/year in Alexandria (1.0% rate) vs $6,615/year in Chicago (2.1% rate). Sales tax rates are 5.3% in Virginia and 6.3% in Illinois.
Alexandria median household income: $108,500/yr. Chicago median household income: $70,100/yr (Census ACS).
Median monthly rent: $2,200 in Alexandria vs $2,288 in Chicago. Annualized that is $26,400 vs $27,456.
Chicago offers a lower cost of living (index 114 vs 142), which lets remote-workers keeping a coastal salary stretch further. Alexandria typically wins on amenities and labor-market depth.
Alexandria and Chicago numbers are pulled from Zillow ZHVI/ZORI (home values, rent), the U.S. Census Bureau ACS (income, demographics), and BEA RPP (cost-of-living index). Each value is timestamped on the page.
Source feeds (Zillow, Freddie Mac PMMS, Census ACS, BEA RPP) are refreshed on their native cadence. Page caches revalidate every 24 hours via Next.js ISR.
No. The Alexandria vs Chicago cost-of-living page is educational reference using public data and standard formulas. It is not personalized tax, legal, or investment advice. Consult a licensed professional for material decisions.
Home prices use Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI)[1]; rents use Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI)[1]. Median household income comes from the Census ACS 5-year estimates[2].
COL indices use the BEA Regional Price Parity methodology[3], normalized so 100 = national average.
Property tax rates are effective rates from the Tax Foundation[4], expressed as % of owner-occupied home value. Mortgage estimates assume 6.5% fixed rate[5], 30-year term, 20.0% down, $1,800/yr homeowners insurance.
Federal tax calculations[6] assume single filer, standard deduction. State tax uses the top marginal rate times taxable income after the state standard deduction. FICA = 6.2% Social Security (up to wage base) + 1.45% Medicare.
Salary equivalence uses adjusted = salary × (COL_destination / COL_origin). This captures cost-of-living shift but not state income tax differences.
Unemployment figures are the most recent monthly MSA-level readings from the BLS LAUS series[7].
Last reviewed is computed from the maximum retrievedAt across every source this page consumes.
City data from Census Bureau[2], BLS[7], and Zillow[1] (2024-2025). Tax calculations use 2025 IRS rates[6], single filer, standard deduction. Mortgage estimates assume 6.5% PMMS rate[5], 30-year term, 20.0% down. COL Index: 100 = national average[3]. Last reviewed .