Is Chicago cheaper than Newark?

Yes. Typical rent in Chicago is $1,781 a month versus $2,205 in Newark — 19% cheaper. Median household income is $71,673 in Chicago compared with $46,460 in Newark, so Chicago has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Chicago or Newark?

Newark is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 68 versus 86 in Chicago — 21% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.

Which city has better schools, Chicago or Newark?

School composites are close: A- in Chicago and A- in Newark. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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City comparison

Chicago, IL vs Newark, NJ

Chicago, IL versus Newark, NJ is a real move, not a trivia matchup. This comparison uses the same 2026 neighborhood report data we publish on each city page — typical rent, median household income, crime indexes, school composites, and typical weather — so you can see which city actually fits how you live, work, and spend. Typical rents sit near $1,781 a month in Chicago and $2,205 in Newark, and median household income lands at $71,673 versus $46,460. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Chicago takes affordability, job market, and weather, while Newark takes safety. The widest gap is median income, where Chicago leads by 54% — the kind of spread you feel in a monthly budget or a nightly walk, not just on a chart. Read the category rows as a filter: if cheaper housing would change your life more than a stronger job market, weight rent first. If you are moving with kids, weight schools and crime. If you picked a city after one good weekend, use the weather and income rows to test whether that weekend survives a full year.

Numbers below are citywide, not a guarantee about the street you will actually live on. Two ZIP codes in Chicago can feel further apart than Chicago and Newark do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Chicago and Newark reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Chicago report Full Newark report

Chicago, IL

Rent: $1,781/mo
Median income: $71,673
Crime index: 86
Schools: A-
Weather: 72°F

Newark, NJ

Rent: $2,205/mo
Median income: $46,460
Crime index: 68
Schools: A-
Weather: 75°F

Rent

19% cheaper

Chicago rent is 19% cheaper than Newark

Chicago

Winner

$1,781/mo

Newark

$2,205/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,781 a month in Chicago versus $2,205 in Newark, so Chicago is 19% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $5,088 — enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Chicago still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Newark.

Median income

54% higher

Chicago's median income is 54% higher than Newark

Chicago

Winner

$71,673

Newark

$46,460

What this means for your life

Median household income is $71,673 in Chicago versus $46,460 in Newark, so typical pay runs 54% higher in Chicago — about $25,213 more household income a year. Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Chicago is the stronger labor market on paper. Newark can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.

Crime index

21% lower crime

Newark's crime index is 21% lower than Chicago

Chicago

86 (100 = avg)

Newark

Winner

68 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Newark's crime index is 68 versus 86 in Chicago (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 21% lower in Newark. That gap is meaningful day-to-day — it affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Newark is the easier city. Chicago can still work if you pick the right pocket — just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.

School scores

Neck and neck

Chicago and Newark are about even on school scores.

Chicago

A- · 84/100

Newark

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Chicago, A- in Newark). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better — at this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.

Typical weather

8% more comfortable

Chicago weather is 8% more comfortable than Newark

Chicago

Winner

72°F typical

Newark

75°F typical

What this means for your life

Chicago scores 8% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 72°F in Chicago and 75°F in Newark. Chicago reads as warm weather most of the year; Newark reads as warm weather most of the year. The comfort edge is real but not a personality transplant. If you already know you want Newark's season, a modest index lead should not talk you out of it. If you are undecided, Chicago is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Fit check

Who should choose Chicago

Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access

Chicago is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 19% cheaper here at about $1,781 a month. Choose Chicago if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 54% higher ($71,673), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two — around 72°F. That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.

Open the Chicago report →

Fit check

Who should choose Newark

Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy

Newark is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 21% lower than Chicago (68 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.

Open the Newark report →

Bottom line

Chicago vs Newark, called

If the job market is your priority, Chicago is the clear choice.

If safety matters more to you, Newark pulls ahead.

For most movers comparing these two cities, Chicago offers the better overall package.

Common questions

Chicago vs Newark FAQ

Is Chicago cheaper than Newark?: Yes. Typical rent in Chicago is $1,781 a month versus $2,205 in Newark — 19% cheaper. Median household income is $71,673 in Chicago compared with $46,460 in Newark, so Chicago has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Chicago or Newark?: Newark is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 68 versus 86 in Chicago — 21% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, Chicago or Newark?: School composites are close: A- in Chicago and A- in Newark. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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