Cost of Living: San Francisco vs Chicago
Compare cost of living between San Francisco and Chicago. See how much you’d need to earn in one city to match the other.
Relative cost
Chicago is about 18% less expensive than San Francisco.
Based on our cost-of-living indices (housing, groceries, transport, and general expenses).
Equivalent salary
To have a similar standard of living in Chicago as someone earning $60,000 in San Francisco, you’d need approximately 49,263 USD/year in Chicago.
How we compare San Francisco and Chicago
We use relative cost-of-living indices for housing, groceries, transport, and general expenses. The equivalent salary is an estimate; your own spending and lifestyle will affect the real number.