Should I move to Chicago or Boston?

Deciding between Chicago and Boston depends on your priorities: Chicago offers significantly lower costs (especially housing), a larger Midwestern feel with diverse culture, while Boston boasts top-tier universities, a stronger East Coast history/vibe, better walkability, and proximity to New England nature, but at a much higher price point and with intense winters. Choose Chicago for affordability and big-city amenities; choose Boston for academia, history, and coastal access if budget allows.

Which city is better to live in, Boston or Chicago?

Boston offers a tight-knit community with a robust job market, especially in education and healthcare, while Chicago may have a more affordable cost of living paired with its eclectic arts and culture scene.

Is $90,000 a good salary in Chicago?

Yes, $90k is a good salary in Chicago, especially for a single person, allowing for a comfortable lifestyle in most neighborhoods, although it might be tight for a family or if living in the most expensive downtown areas without roommates. It's well above the median income for Chicago residents, but achieving "comfort" depends heavily on your lifestyle, debt, and whether you plan to live alone or with others, with some studies suggesting over $90k is needed for a truly "comfortable" living score. 

Is $100,000 a good salary in Boston?

Yes, $100k is a decent salary in Boston for a single person if you're mindful of expenses (roommates, public transit), but it becomes tight for a comfortable solo life and difficult for a family, as Boston has a very high cost of living, especially for housing and childcare, with some studies showing it's not enough for a family of three to cover basics. For a single person, it generally covers essentials and allows for some savings, but living alone in a nice apartment can quickly deplete funds. 

Is $70,000 enough to live in Boston?

Yes, $70k is enough to live in Boston as a single person, but it requires careful budgeting, prioritizing roommates, and using public transit to manage high housing costs, making it tight for comfort but feasible for survival and modest savings, though not ideal for thriving without roommates. Living alone on this salary will be very challenging, with little left over after essentials like rent (which can easily eat up half your take-home pay). 

Boston VS Chicago I Where should you move?

What is a livable salary in Boston?

To live comfortably in Boston, a single person generally needs to earn around $125,000 - $135,000 annually, while a family of four requires over $300,000, according to 2024/2025 studies using a 50/30/20 budget. However, this varies significantly: living with roommates can allow for lower incomes ($75k-$100k), but affording a decent 1-bedroom apartment alone often requires $100k+, while the median household income is closer to $90,000, showing the high cost of independent living. 

Is $90,000 a good salary in Boston?

Yes, $90k is a solid salary in Boston, especially for a single person, but it's tight for "comfortable" living due to high costs like rent (expect $2k+ for a room/studio) and groceries, falling near the median but requiring careful budgeting for savings and wants, often needing roommates or living further out for comfort, notes Reddit users and ZipRecruiter's analysis of Boston salaries. It's above the average but below the $125k study-suggested amount for true "sustainable comfort" in pricey Boston, but manageable with roommates or suburban commutes, say CBS News and ZipRecruiter. 

What salary is considered middle class in Boston?

A household is considered middle class in the Bay State if it makes between $66,565 and $199,716. This is a jump from $62,986 to $188,976 last year. The median household income in Massachusetts is $99,858.

How rare is a 100k salary?

Making $100k a year is less rare than it used to be, but still puts you above the median earner, though it varies significantly by individual vs. household income, location, and demographics; roughly 18-20% of individuals earn over $100k, while over 30-40% of households do, placing it in the top fifth of individuals but a more comfortable, above-average spot for households, especially in lower-cost areas. 

What is considered a high earner in Boston?

However, in Massachusetts, particularly in the Greater Boston area, this perception is increasingly detached from reality. A recent analysis indicates that to be considered upper class in Massachusetts, a household needs to earn approximately $180,000 to $190,000 annually, one of the highest thresholds in the nation.

What is the top 1% salary in Chicago?

Illinois' top 1% income threshold is $675,100, ranking 14th nationally. National top 1% cutoff declined 3% from 2021 to 2022. Washington D.C. has highest top 1% threshold at $991,690.

Is $100,000 the new middle class?

Yes, $100,000 is generally considered middle-income in the U.S. by many standards, falling within the Pew Research definition of two-thirds to double the national median income, but it often doesn't feel like a comfortable middle-class lifestyle due to high living costs, student loans, and regional differences, making it feel more like lower-middle class in expensive areas.
 

What percentage of Americans make over $75,000?

What percentage of Americans make over $75K? Only 12.1% of Americans make in the $75,000 to $99,999 range. An additional 17% make between $100,000 and $149,000, and 15.7% earn in the $50,000 to $74,999 range.

Is moving to Boston a good idea?

Summary: Boston is a vibrant city rich in history, job opportunities, and cultural experiences, making it one of the best places to live on the East Coast. With a diverse job market in healthcare, finance, and education, residents enjoy higher salaries that help offset the cost of living.

Is Boston as windy as Chicago?

With an average wind speed of 11.5 mph and near 120 "wind events" (minimum sustained speeds of 26 to 39 mph or frequent wind gusts of 35 to 57 mph) per year, Boston is well above Chicago's 10.3 mph average.

Is Chicago rated the most beautiful city in the world?

Chicago has officially been ranked #1 as the most beautiful city in the world — according to the people who know it best: its residents. A recent Time Out survey asked more than 18,500 locals across 118 cities whether they consider their hometown beautiful, and Chicagoans didn't hesitate to show their love.

What's a good salary for a 30 year old?

A good salary for a 30-year-old in the U.S. generally falls between $60,000 to $80,000+, with the national median for ages 25-34 around $58,500 - $59,800, but a "good" salary depends heavily on your location (high-cost cities need much more) and field, with professional degrees often starting higher, notes Forbes and SmartAsset. Aiming for $100k+ is a common goal for comfort, but varies by individual expenses, debt, and savings. 

Is a 6 figure salary good anymore?

The lowest salary considered to be in the socioeconomic class is $36,132 in one state, while the highest hits a staggering $199,716 in another. But in every single state in America, a $100,000 salary is no longer enough to be considered upper-class—and families with six-figure incomes are even struggling to get by.

Can a family of four live on 100k a year?

A $100k salary for a family of four is decent in many parts of the U.S. but can be tight or even struggle in high-cost-of-living areas like California, NYC, or Hawaii, where it might not cover necessities comfortably, while in lower-cost regions, it can support a comfortable middle-class lifestyle with savings, though daycare and housing costs heavily influence this balance. 

Is Massachusetts the most expensive state?

A new study is reiterating the high cost of living in Massachusetts. Massachusetts is the most expensive state for a family of four to live comfortably, according to a new study. According to SmartAsset, a family's income needs to be $313,747 to live comfortably in Massachusetts, the highest in the nation.

What is the top 1% salary in Boston?

By Maya Shavit | Boston Business Journal • Published October 23, 2025 • Updated on October 23, 2025 at 4:03 pm. Back Bay is the wealthiest neighborhood of Boston. Massachusetts residents need to make almost $900,000 a year to be in the top 1% of earners in the state.

What are the 5 wealth classes?

Here's a wealth class framework described by Bo Hanson, CFA, CFP® that breaks out 5 groups by net worth: the bottom 25%, the lower middle class, upper middle class, upper class, and the wealthiest 10%.

What is a livable salary in Boston, MA?

To live comfortably in Boston, a single person generally needs to earn around $125,000 - $135,000 annually, while a family of four requires over $300,000, according to 2024/2025 studies using a 50/30/20 budget. However, this varies significantly: living with roommates can allow for lower incomes ($75k-$100k), but affording a decent 1-bedroom apartment alone often requires $100k+, while the median household income is closer to $90,000, showing the high cost of independent living. 

How much should I make at 25?

For Americans ages 25 to 34, the median salary is $1,150 per week or $59,800 per year. That's a big jump from the median salary for 20- to 24-year-olds. As a general rule, earnings tend to rise in your 20s and 30s as you start to climb the career ladder.