Chicago, IL vs Phoenix, AZ: sales tax compared
Quick answer
Chicago, IL is the higher-tax metro at 10.25%, versus 8.6% in Phoenix, AZ. The 1.65% gap works out to $1.65 on a $100 purchase, $16.50 on $1,000 and $412.50 on a $25,000 purchase.
- Rate gap
- 1.65%Percentage points, combined rate
- Extra tax on $1,000
- $16.50Paid in Chicago
- Extra tax on $25,000
- $412.50Vehicle-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.
Phoenix, AZ
Maricopa County
8.6%
Combined rate · ranked #28 of 94 covered metros
| Level | Jurisdiction | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| state | Arizona transaction privilege tax | 5.6% |
| county | Maricopa County | 0.7% |
| city | City of Phoenix | 2.3% |
- Population
- 1,650,070
- Median household income
- $72,092
Phoenix applies a higher city rate to some categories, including a separate rate tier on retail sales of single items above a threshold.
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 (1.65%) applied to the pre-tax amount: 1.65% of $1,000 is $16.50. 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 Phoenix?
Chicago, IL at 10.25%, versus 8.6% in Phoenix, AZ.
How much more sales tax would I pay in Chicago on a $1,000 purchase?
About $16.50 more, and roughly $412.50 more on a $25,000 vehicle-sized purchase.
Why do Chicago and Phoenix have different rates?
The state share is 6.25% in IL and 5.6% in AZ. 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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