City comparison
Yes. Chicago's crime index is 167 versus 231 in Cincinnati, and its violent crime index is 139 versus 237, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Cincinnati is cheaper. Median rent is $1,001 a month versus $1,440 in Chicago.
The income gap between Chicago and Cincinnati is significant: $77,902 median household versus $52,909. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,440 in Chicago and $1,001 in Cincinnati.
Chicago is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Cincinnati makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Chicago is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Cincinnati at $1,001 average has pockets that run $801 and others at $1,401: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Chicago and Cincinnati are 250 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,440 a month in Chicago to $1,001 a month in Cincinnati, down $439 a month (30%).
Median household income goes from $77,902 in Chicago to $52,909 in Cincinnati, down $24,993 (32%).
The crime index goes from 167 in Chicago to 231 in Cincinnati, up 64 points (38%).
The move
Cincinnati and Chicago are 250 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,001 a month in Cincinnati to $1,440 a month in Chicago, up $439 a month (44%).
Median household income goes from $52,909 in Cincinnati to $77,902 in Chicago, up $24,993 (47%).
The crime index goes from 231 in Cincinnati to 167 in Chicago, down 64 points (28%).
Chicago, IL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Cincinnati, OH
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Chicago and Cincinnati? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
30% cheaper
Cincinnati rent is 30% cheaper than Chicago
Chicago
$1,440/mo
Cincinnati
Winner$1,001/mo
Typical rent runs $1,001 a month in Cincinnati versus $1,440 in Chicago, so Cincinnati is 30% cheaper. That's roughly $439/month back in your pocket ($5,268/year). Over five years that's $26,340 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Chicago, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Cincinnati is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Chicago? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
47% higher
Chicago's median income is 47% higher than Cincinnati
Chicago
Winner$77,902
Cincinnati
$52,909
Median household income is $77,902 in Chicago versus $52,909 in Cincinnati, so typical pay runs 47% higher in Chicago (about $24,993 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. Cincinnati can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
28% lower crime
Chicago's crime index is 28% lower than Cincinnati
Chicago
Winner167 (100 = avg)
Cincinnati
231 (100 = avg)
Chicago's crime index is 167 versus 231 in Cincinnati (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 28% lower in Chicago. 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, Chicago is the easier city. Cincinnati can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
8% more comfortable
Chicago weather is 8% more comfortable than Cincinnati
Chicago
Winner57°F avg · 64°F highs · comfort 78/100
Cincinnati
55°F avg · 65°F highs · comfort 72/100
Chicago averages about 57°F (64°F highs); Cincinnati averages about 55°F (65°F highs). Chicago averages around 57°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Cincinnati averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Chicago scores 8% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Cincinnati if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 47% higher ($77,902), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 57°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Chicago is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 28% lower than Cincinnati (167 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.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Cincinnati
Cincinnati is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 30% cheaper here at about $1,001 a month. Choose Cincinnati if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Cincinnati is cheaper on rent ($1,001/month vs $1,440), but Chicago's $77,902 median income beats Cincinnati's $52,909 by 32%. Remote workers paid on Chicago scales can make that trade; local-market earners often cannot.
Chicago still pays more locally ($77,902 median income vs $52,909), which can offset the lease if your field pays Chicago rates.
Safety scores read 44/100 in Chicago and 35/100 in Cincinnati.
Most movers who prioritize local pay land in Chicago; Cincinnati only makes sense when $1,001/month housing savings outweigh $77,902 median pay in your field.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Chicago when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Chicago and Cincinnati, plus other cities in IL and OH.
