City comparison
San Diego vs Chicago Cost of Living
Compare overall indexes, housing costs, and budget targets between San Diego (141.4) and Chicago (113.6).
San Diego Index
141.4
Chicago Index
113.6
San Diego Rent
$3,700
Chicago Rent
$2,375
San Diego Home price
$738,000
Chicago Home price
$377,000
Salary equivalent calculator
Enter your current salary in San Diego to estimate the income needed for a similar lifestyle in Chicago.
Equivalent salary in Chicago
$93,997
Based on the relative overall cost of living between San Diego and Chicago.
Category-by-category differences
Use this table to see which categories make one city more or less expensive than the other.
| Category | San Diego | Chicago | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | 194 | 128 | -66.0 (-34.0%) |
| Groceries | 122 | 106 | -16.0 (-13.1%) |
| Transportation | 109 | 112 | +3.0 (+2.8%) |
| Healthcare | 110 | 104 | -6.0 (-5.5%) |
| Utilities | 108 | 101 | -7.0 (-6.5%) |
| Miscellaneous | 118 | 105 | -13.0 (-11.0%) |
Budget comparison
Single
$6,650 / $5,130
San Diego / Chicago
Couple
$11,040 / $8,520
San Diego / Chicago
Family
$15,560 / $12,000
San Diego / Chicago
Frequently Asked Questions
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View San Diego city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for San Diego.
View Chicago city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Chicago.
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.