Chicago vs San Francisco
Cost of Living (2026)

Chicago is 109% less expensive than San Francisco.

Enter your salary → get exact comparison

At a glance

Chicago, IL

COL index107 ✓
State income tax4.95% ✓
Avg 1BR rent$1,650/mo ✓
Median home price$330K ✓
VS

San Francisco, CA

COL index224
State income tax9.3%
Avg 1BR rent$3,600/mo
Median home price$1350K

Cost breakdown by category

CategoryChicago indexSan Francisco indexDifference
Housing139 ✓297+158%
Groceries101 ✓209+108%
Transportation102 ✓205+103%
Healthcare104 ✓215+111%
Utilities101 ✓193+92%

Source: C2ER Cost of Living Index 2026. Index = 100 is US average. ✓ indicates lower cost.

Salary equivalency: Chicago → San Francisco

What salary in San Francisco gives you the same purchasing power as your Chicago salary?

Salary in ChicagoEquivalent in San FranciscoDifference
$60,000$135,000+$75,000
$80,000$179,000+$99,000
$100,000$224,000+$124,000
$130,000$292,000+$162,000
$150,000$336,000+$186,000
$200,000$449,000+$249,000

Chicago vs San Francisco: Full Cost of Living Comparison (2026)

When comparing the cost of living between Chicago, IL and San Francisco, CA, Chicago comes out significantly more affordable with a COL index of 107 versus 224 for San Francisco — a difference of approximately 109%.

State income tax impact

Chicago workers pay 4.95% Illinois state income tax, while San Francisco workers pay 9.3%.

Housing costs

The median home price in Chicago is $330,000, compared to $1,350,000 in San Francisco. Average 1-bedroom rent is $1,650/month in Chicago versus $3,600/month in San Francisco.

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