Is $95k good in Chicago?

Yes — about $70,516 take-home with rents near $1,900.

Is $120k enough in San Francisco?

Tight solo — about $85,569 take-home against ~$3,400 rents.

Why $95k in Chicago Beats $120k in SF

City War • 6 min read • Updated for tax year 2025 • Estimates, not tax advice

Quick answer: Chicago keeps about $70,516 a year (~$5,876/mo) on $95k; SF keeps about $85,569 (~$7,131/mo) on $120k — but SF one-bedrooms cost ~$1,500 more monthly, wiping the $1,255 pay advantage and then some.

Pay stub vs rent stub

Illinois flat 4.95% takes ~$4,702 on $95k; California takes ~$7,204 on $120k. After rent (~$1,900 Chicago vs ~$3,400 SF), Chicago leaves ~$3,976 monthly for life; SF leaves ~$3,731 — the smaller salary wins by ~$245 a month.

The lesson

Never compare gross salaries across cities — compare take-home minus rent. That single subtraction predicts happiness better than any cost-of-living index. Run both offers in the calculator.

Method: 2025 federal brackets after the standard deduction ($15,000 single), Social Security 6.2% to $176,100, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% over $200k single). State figures use simplified progressive tables for CA/NY, published flat rates where flat, labelled planning estimates elsewhere. Excludes city tax, credits and itemized deductions.

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