Chicago makes list of top 25 cities where pay goes furthest

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Monday, September 12, 2016
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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

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