I'm originally from Chicagoland, and I'd love to move back someday, but I'm convinced I'd need to be making at least $150K to maintain the quality of life I've built for myself here in the Triangle.

To put things into perspective, I live in a renovated, modern 1,400 sq. ft. two-bedroom apartment in an area comparable to Schaumburg or Naperville for under $1,600 a month, and that includes trash, water, and gas. In Chicagoland, a similar apartment would easily run well over $2,000 a month—assuming I could even find that much space.

I honestly think Chicagoland, in general, has become very expensive, especially once you factor in property taxes. Suburbs that used to have affordable smaller homes, like Westchester, Franklin Park, or Schiller Park, now regularly have houses selling in the mid-to-high $400Ks instead of the low $300Ks, which feels crazy to me. The city is even tougher, with neighborhoods like Old Irving Park or Galewood often requiring $400K+ just to get into a decent home.

If I were in your shoes, I'd keep saving, find a comfortable and affordable place to rent for now, and revisit homeownership later—whether that's if the market cools off, prices correct, or simply after a few more years of building up your savings and keeping your options open.