City comparison
Chicago is safer than Colorado Springs. Chicago's crime index is 167 versus 200 in Colorado Springs, and its violent crime index is 139 versus 204, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Chicago is cheaper. Median rent is $1,440 a month versus $1,648 in Colorado Springs.
Chicago and Colorado Springs are closer on paper than many city pairs, so the move comes down to how you weight cost, safety, and climate. Typical rent sits near $1,440 in Chicago and $1,648 in Colorado Springs, and median household income lands at $77,902 versus $84,818. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
Chicago is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Colorado Springs 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.
Visit both if you can. Cities reveal themselves in the ordinary moments, a Tuesday morning commute, a Saturday errand run, not on a weekend visit.
The move
Chicago and Colorado Springs are 926 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,440 a month in Chicago to $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs, up $208 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $77,902 in Chicago to $84,818 in Colorado Springs, up $6,916 (9%).
The crime index goes from 167 in Chicago to 200 in Colorado Springs, up 33 points (20%).
The move
Colorado Springs and Chicago are 926 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs to $1,440 a month in Chicago, down $208 a month (13%).
Median household income goes from $84,818 in Colorado Springs to $77,902 in Chicago, down $6,916 (8%).
The crime index goes from 200 in Colorado Springs to 167 in Chicago, down 33 points (17%).
Chicago, IL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Colorado Springs, CO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Chicago and Colorado Springs? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
13% cheaper
Chicago rent is 13% cheaper than Colorado Springs
Chicago
Winner$1,440/mo
Colorado Springs
$1,648/mo
Typical rent runs $1,440 a month in Chicago versus $1,648 in Colorado Springs, so Chicago is 13% 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 $2,496, 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 Colorado Springs.
Planning to buy in Chicago? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
9% higher
Colorado Springs's median income is 9% higher than Chicago
Chicago
$77,902
Colorado Springs
Winner$84,818
Median household income is $84,818 in Colorado Springs versus $77,902 in Chicago, so typical pay runs 9% higher in Colorado Springs (about $6,916 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
17% lower crime
Chicago's crime index is 17% lower than Colorado Springs
Chicago
Winner167 (100 = avg)
Colorado Springs
200 (100 = avg)
Chicago's crime index is 167 versus 200 in Colorado Springs (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 17% 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. Colorado Springs can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
4% more comfortable
Chicago weather is 4% more comfortable than Colorado Springs
Chicago
Winner59°F avg · 65°F highs · comfort 83/100
Colorado Springs
58°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 80/100
Chicago averages about 59°F (65°F highs); Colorado Springs averages about 58°F (67°F highs). Chicago averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Colorado Springs averages around 58°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Chicago scores 4% 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 Colorado Springs if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Chicago is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 13% cheaper here at about $1,440 a month. Choose Chicago if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Chicago if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (59°F) beat Colorado Springs on this page's weather index by 4%. Colorado Springs may pay more or cost less, but Chicago is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Chicago is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 17% lower than Colorado Springs (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
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Colorado Springs is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 9% higher here ($84,818). Start with Colorado Springs if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Bottom line
Housing separates these metros first: $1,440/month in Chicago versus $1,648 in Colorado Springs. Median income reads $77,902 in Chicago and $84,818 in Colorado Springs, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
Chicago rent at $1,440/month is still below Colorado Springs's $1,648, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $84,818 in Colorado Springs versus $77,902 in Chicago.
Chicago clears the bar on housing cost in this dataset. Colorado Springs deserves a serious look only when your $84,818 income offer in Colorado Springs outweighs saving $208/month in Chicago.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Chicago and Colorado Springs, plus other cities in IL and CO.
