<p>121314, you have no concept of real income and status.</p>
<p>first of all, if you live in new york you have to make 200k just to get by comfortably. you take home 100k of that, given fed state city tax, and then rent food etc are through the roof!</p>
<p>second of all, the costs of living in new york and chicago don’t really compare. chicago is much, much cheaper overall. if you made 200k in chicago you’d be loaded.</p>
<p>check out a cost of living comparator online, they are easy to find.</p>