City comparison
Chicago vs San Diego Cost of Living
Compare overall indexes, housing costs, and budget targets between Chicago (113.6) and San Diego (141.4).
Chicago Index
113.6
San Diego Index
141.4
Chicago Rent
$2,375
San Diego Rent
$3,700
Chicago Home price
$377,000
San Diego Home price
$738,000
Salary equivalent calculator
Enter your current salary in Chicago to estimate the income needed for a similar lifestyle in San Diego.
Equivalent salary in San Diego
$113,269
Based on the relative overall cost of living between Chicago and San Diego.
Category-by-category differences
Use this table to see which categories make one city more or less expensive than the other.
| Category | Chicago | San Diego | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | 128 | 194 | +66.0 (+51.6%) |
| Groceries | 106 | 122 | +16.0 (+15.1%) |
| Transportation | 112 | 109 | -3.0 (-2.7%) |
| Healthcare | 104 | 110 | +6.0 (+5.8%) |
| Utilities | 101 | 108 | +7.0 (+6.9%) |
| Miscellaneous | 105 | 118 | +13.0 (+12.4%) |
Budget comparison
Single
$5,130 / $6,650
Chicago / San Diego
Couple
$8,520 / $11,040
Chicago / San Diego
Family
$12,000 / $15,560
Chicago / San Diego
Frequently Asked Questions
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View Chicago city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Chicago.
View San Diego city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for San Diego.
Last updated: Q1 2026
Data as of Q1 2026. Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau, HUD Fair Market Rents.
Cost of living indexes use the national average as baseline (100). Data is updated periodically.