Chicago makes list of top 25 cities where pay goes furthest
CHICAGO (WLS) -- For people looking to stretch their dollar as far as it can go, Chicago may not be the best place to live.
Chicago ranks 19th on Glassdoor's list of top 25 cities where a paycheck goes the furthest. The job and recruiting website determined the rankings by comparing a city's median base salary to its median home value.
But Glassdoor said it is still much cheaper to live in Chicago than in New York City or San Francisco.
The report also factored in cost of living in each city. Glassdoor determined cost of living by comparing pay to housing. The U.S. Department of Labor said housing costs make up 33 percent of annual expenditures for the average American.
Here's the full list:
1. Detroit, MI
Cost of Living Ratio: 50%
Median Base Salary: $61,500
Median Home Value: $123,100
Number of Open Jobs: 54,808
2. Memphis, TN
Cost of Living Ratio: 46%
Median Base Salary: $52,000
Median Home Value: $112,100
Number of Open Jobs: 17,982
3. Pittsburgh, PA
Cost of Living Ratio: 45%
Median Base Salary: $56,896
Median Home Value: $126,700
Number of Open Jobs: 46,379
4. Cleveland, OH
Cost of Living Ratio: 44%
Median Base Salary: $55,000
Median Home Value: $125,500
Number of Open Jobs: 29,304
5. Indianapolis, IN
Cost of Living Ratio: 43%
Median Base Salary: $56,000
Median Home Value: $130,200
Number of Open Jobs: 33,090
6. St. Louis, MO
Cost of Living Ratio: 40%
Median Base Salary: $56,896
Median Home Value: $141,900
Number of Open Jobs: 35,300
7. Cincinnati, OH
Cost of Living Ratio: 40%
Median Base Salary: $57,179
Median Home Value: $143,400
Number of Open Jobs: 32,605
8. Birmingham, AL
Cost of Living Ratio: 40%
Median Base Salary: $50,800
Median Home Value: $128,000
Number of Open Jobs: 15,299
9. Kansas City, MO
Cost of Living Ratio: 39%
Median Base Salary: $58,000
Median Home Value: $147,500
Number of Open Jobs: 35,639
10. Louisville, KY
Cost of Living Ratio: 39%
Median Base Salary: $54,000
Median Home Value: $137,500
Number of Open Jobs: 22,693
11. Buffalo, NY
Cost of Living Ratio: 39%
Median Base Salary: $50,000
Median Home Value: $128,100
Number of Open Jobs: 13,599
12. Houston, TX
Cost of Living Ratio: 38%
Median Base Salary: $65,000
Median Home Value: $172,100
Number of Open Jobs: 72,033
13. Oklahoma City, OK
Cost of Living Ratio: 38%
Median Base Salary: $50,000
Median Home Value: $132,500
Number of Open Jobs: 16,388
14. Columbus, OH
Cost of Living Ratio: 37%
Median Base Salary: $57,000
Median Home Value: $154,600
Number of Open Jobs: 30,728
15. Atlanta, GA
Cost of Living Ratio: 37%
Median Base Salary: $60,000
Median Home Value: $163,000
Number of Open Jobs: 90,739
16. San Antonio, TX
Cost of Living Ratio: 37%
Median Base Salary: $55,000
Median Home Value: $150,200
Number of Open Jobs: 28,378
17. Charlotte, NC
Cost of Living Ratio: 36%
Median Base Salary: $58,000
Median Home Value: $159,800
Number of Open Jobs: 37,180
18. Dallas-Fort Worth, TX
Cost of Living Ratio: 33%
Median Base Salary: $61,000
Median Home Value: $182,100
Number of Open Jobs: 121,241
19. Chicago, IL
Cost of Living Ratio: 33%
Median Base Salary: $63,000
Median Home Value: $193,800
Number of Open Jobs: 155,173
20. Tampa, FL
Cost of Living Ratio: 32%
Median Base Salary: $52,000
Median Home Value: $163,600
Number of Open Jobs: 40,830
21. Hartford, CT
Cost of Living Ratio: 32%
Median Base Salary: $68,000
Median Home Value: $215,800
Number of Open Jobs: 19,025
22. Richmond, VA
Cost of Living Ratio: 31%
Median Base Salary: $59,800
Median Home Value: $191,500
Number of Open Jobs: 21,454
23. Jacksonville, FL
Cost of Living Ratio: 30%
Median Base Salary: $50,000
Median Home Value: $165,900
Number of Open Jobs: 18,205
24. Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN
Cost of Living Ratio: 30%
Median Base Salary: $65,000
Median Home Value: $219,400
Number of Open Jobs: 64,026
25. Raleigh-Durham, NC
Cost of Living Ratio: 30%
Median Base Salary: $62,000
Median Home Value: $209,400
Number of Open Jobs: 22,339
