Chicago, IL vs Los Angeles, CA: sales tax compared
Quick answer
Chicago, IL is the higher-tax metro at 10.25%, versus 9.5% in Los Angeles, CA. The 0.75% gap works out to $0.75 on a $100 purchase, $7.50 on $1,000 and $187.50 on a $25,000 purchase.
- Rate gap
- 0.75%Percentage points, combined rate
- Extra tax on $1,000
- $7.50Paid in Chicago
- Extra tax on $25,000
- $187.50Vehicle-sized purchase
Chicago, IL
Cook County
10.25%
Combined rate · ranked #4 of 94 covered metros
| Level | Jurisdiction | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| state | Illinois state | 6.25% |
| county | Cook County | 1.75% |
| city | City of Chicago | 1.25% |
| special district | Regional Transportation Authority | 1% |
- Population
- 2,664,452
- Median household income
- $71,673
Chicago's 10.25% is the highest combined rate among the largest US cities, and groceries and prescription drugs are taxed at a reduced 1% state rate.
Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles County
9.5%
Combined rate · ranked #9 of 94 covered metros
| Level | Jurisdiction | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| state | California state (incl. mandatory local) | 7.25% |
| special district | Los Angeles County transit and homelessness districts | 2.25% |
- Population
- 3,820,914
- Median household income
- $80,366
Los Angeles County stacks several voter-approved district taxes — Measure M, Measure H and predecessors — which is the entire reason the rate is 2.25 points above the state floor.
How the difference is calculated
Same arithmetic the calculator on every page runs.
Each combined rate is the sum of its listed state, county, city and special-district components — no rounding is applied before the total. The dollar gap is the rate difference (0.75%) applied to the pre-tax amount: 0.75% of $1,000 is $7.50. Neither figure includes product-specific exemptions; groceries, clothing and digital goods can be taxed at a different rate or not at all, which is covered on each state's rules page.
Questions people ask
Direct answers to the questions this comparison raises.
Which has a higher sales tax rate, Chicago or Los Angeles?
Chicago, IL at 10.25%, versus 9.5% in Los Angeles, CA.
How much more sales tax would I pay in Chicago on a $1,000 purchase?
About $7.50 more, and roughly $187.50 more on a $25,000 vehicle-sized purchase.
Why do Chicago and Los Angeles have different rates?
The state share is 6.25% in IL and 7.25% in CA. The rest comes from county, city and special-district increments stacked on top, which are set locally and listed in full on this page.
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