San Francisco vs Chicago
San Francisco, CA · Chicago, IL
Chicago is 47% cheaper than San Francisco overall.
Home Price
San: $1,350,000
Chicago: $315,000
Monthly Rent
San: $3,498/mo
Chicago: $2,288/mo
COL Index
San: 214
Chicago: 114
Median Income
San: $131,000
Chicago: $70,100
Side-by-Side Comparison
Median Home Price
Monthly Rent (Median)
Median Household Income
Property Tax Rate
Cost of Living Index
100 = national average
Avg. Commute
Unemployment Rate
Median Age
What This Means For You
Buying Power
A $100,000 salary in San Francisco has the same purchasing power as $53,271 in Chicago — based on each city's cost of living index.
Housing
Homes in Chicago cost 77% more (-$1,035,000 extra). Expect a larger mortgage and down payment.
Renting
Renting in Chicago saves you $1,210/month — $14,520 per year. Median rent: $3,498/mo in San Francisco vs $2,288/mo in Chicago.
Property Taxes
On a median-priced home, San Francisco owners pay roughly $8,505/year in property taxes vs $6,615/year in Chicago. That's a $1,890 annual difference.
Local Earnings
Median household income is $131,000 in San Francisco and $70,100 in Chicago. Chicago residents earn 46% more — but remember to factor in cost of living.
Daily Commute
Average commute is 34 minutes in San Francisco vs 31 minutes in Chicago. Commute times are nearly identical.
Salary Equivalence
To maintain the same lifestyle when moving from San Francisco to Chicago, here's the salary you'd need:
| Salary in San Francisco | Equivalent in Chicago | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $26,636 | -$23,364 |
| $75,000 | $39,953 | -$35,047 |
| $100,000 | $53,271 | -$46,729 |
| $150,000 | $79,907 | -$70,093 |
| $200,000 | $106,542 | -$93,458 |
* Calculated using cost of living indices (national average = 100). Does not account for state income tax differences.
Run the Numbers
Mortgage Calculator
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Rent vs Buy
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Cost of Living
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Home Appreciation
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Affordability Calculator
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Property Tax Calculator
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San Francisco Calculators
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Related Comparisons
San Francisco vs Chicago: Common Questions
Is San Francisco or Chicago cheaper to live in?
Based on cost of living indices, Chicago is cheaper overall. San Francisco has a COL index of 214 while Chicago scores 114 (national average = 100).
How do home prices compare between San Francisco and Chicago?
The median home price in San Francisco is $1,350,000 vs $315,000 in Chicago — a difference of $1,035,000 (77%).
What salary do I need in Chicago to match my San Francisco income?
Use the salary equivalence table above. For example, a $100K salary in San Francisco is equivalent to $53,271 in Chicago in terms of purchasing power.
Which city has lower property taxes?
San Francisco has a lower property tax rate (0.63% vs 2.1%). On a median-priced home, that means paying $6,615/year vs $8,505/year.
Cost of living data sourced from Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) Cost of Living Index, U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey, and Zillow Research. Tax rates from Tax Foundation and state revenue agencies. Last updated: March 2025.