City comparison
No. Garland's crime index is 87 versus 167 in Chicago, and its violent crime index is 62 versus 139, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Chicago is cheaper. Median rent is $1,440 a month versus $1,641 in Garland.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Chicago and Garland. Chicago averages 53°F while Garland averages 66°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,440 versus $1,641.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Chicago is the easier city on typical rent, but Garland can still be the better daily fit depending on schools, safety, and climate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The crime gap is citywide. Garland has rougher pockets and Chicago has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Chicago and Garland are 790 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,440 a month in Chicago to $1,641 a month in Garland, up $201 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $77,902 in Chicago to $76,320 in Garland, down $1,582 (2%).
The crime index goes from 167 in Chicago to 87 in Garland, down 80 points (48%).
The move
Garland and Chicago are 790 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,641 a month in Garland to $1,440 a month in Chicago, down $201 a month (12%).
Median household income goes from $76,320 in Garland to $77,902 in Chicago, up $1,582 (2%).
The crime index goes from 87 in Garland to 167 in Chicago, up 80 points (92%).
Chicago, IL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Garland, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Chicago and Garland? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
12% cheaper
Chicago rent is 12% cheaper than Garland
Chicago
Winner$1,440/mo
Garland
$1,641/mo
Typical rent runs $1,440 a month in Chicago versus $1,641 in Garland, so Chicago is 12% 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 $2,412, 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 Garland.
Planning to buy in Chicago? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
2% higher
Chicago's median income is 2% higher than Garland
Chicago
Winner$77,902
Garland
$76,320
Median household income is $77,902 in Chicago versus $76,320 in Garland, so typical pay runs 2% higher in Chicago (about $1,582 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
48% lower crime
Garland's crime index is 48% lower than Chicago
Chicago
167 (100 = avg)
Garland
Winner87 (100 = avg)
Garland's crime index is 87 versus 167 in Chicago (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 48% lower in Garland. 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, Garland is the easier city. Chicago can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
52% more comfortable
Garland weather is 52% more comfortable than Chicago
Chicago
53°F avg · 60°F highs · comfort 66/100
Garland
Winner66°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Chicago averages about 53°F (60°F highs); Garland averages about 66°F (73°F highs). Chicago averages around 53°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Garland sits near 66°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Garland scores 52% 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 Chicago 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 and professional growth
Chicago is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 12% 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.
Chicago is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 2% higher here ($77,902). Start with Chicago if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Pick Garland if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (66°F) beat Chicago on this page's weather index by 52%. Chicago may pay more or cost less, but Garland is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Garland is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 48% lower than Chicago (87 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.
Bottom line
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Garland leads on safety (64/100 vs 44/100 in Chicago). Typical rent is $1,641 in Garland and $1,440 in Chicago; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Safety still diverges (64/100 in Garland vs 44/100 in Chicago), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,440 in Chicago and $1,641 in Garland.
Between Chicago and Garland, Garland is ahead on safety — 64/100 safety versus 44/100. Lean Chicago instead when you already know the Chicago block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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