Chicago vs San Francisco Cost of Living
San Francisco is approximately 38.1% more expensive than Chicago. See salary equivalence, taxes, and side-by-side breakdown.
Chicago, IL
San Francisco, CA
| Salary in Chicago | Equivalent in San Francisco | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $69,000 | +$19,000 (+38.0%) |
| $75,000 | $103,600 | +$28,600 (+38.1%) |
| $100,000 | $138,100 | +$38,100 (+38.1%) |
| $150,000 | $207,100 | +$57,100 (+38.1%) |
| $200,000 | $276,200 | +$76,200 (+38.1%) |
San Francisco is roughly 38% more expensive overall, and housing is doing almost all of the work: a one-bedroom runs $1,850 in Chicago against $3,000 in San Francisco.
Housing does most of the damage
Almost the entire gap between two cities is shelter. Tradable goods cost roughly the same everywhere; land does not. A one-bedroom runs about $1,850 a month in Chicago and $3,000 in San Francisco — $1,150 a month apart, or $13,800 a year.
Buying sharpens the same story. Median home prices sit near $330,000 in Chicago against $1,300,000 in San Francisco — at 20% down, about $194,000 apart in cash up front, before property tax rates in Illinois and California enter the picture.
The price-to-rent ratios diverge enough to change the buy-versus-rent answer: about 15 in Chicago versus 36 in San Francisco. A ratio near 15 or lower makes buying straightforward; near 20 or above, renting and investing the gap is usually the stronger play. Which means the right answer can genuinely be to buy in one and rent in the other.
Work, weather, and what else is different
Chicago is a major metro of about 9.3M and losing population; San Francisco is a large metro of about 4.6M and roughly flat.
These labor markets barely overlap. Chicago is built around finance/trading, logistics, manufacturing (United Airlines (headquarters), McDonald's (headquarters)), San Francisco around technology, finance, biotech (Salesforce, Google). Your experience may not read as relevant on the other end — secure an offer before you move.
The part spreadsheets leave out. Chicago: Humid continental: January highs near 32°F/lows 19°F, July highs near 84°F/lows 65°F, windy with lake-effect weather swings. San Francisco: Cool Mediterranean/marine climate with mild winters near 46°F lows and cool summers with July highs near 68°F, often foggy.
No local income tax (Illinois has a flat 4.95% state tax), but Chicago's combined sales tax rate (10.25%) is among the highest of any major US city. One of the most expensive US housing markets, but no city or California-specific local income tax on top of the state's high income tax; famously cool summers due to marine fog.
Cost indexes derive from Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities; rent, home prices and local tax rates are compiled from market and municipal sources. How these are compiled and updated.
Related tools
Paycheck calculator — take-home after federal, state and local tax. Salary calculator — hourly and annual conversion. Mortgage calculator — what a home in either metro actually costs monthly. Guide: the true cost of relocating.