City comparison
San Francisco vs Chicago Cost of Living
Compare overall indexes, housing costs, and budget targets between San Francisco (177.2) and Chicago (113.6).
San Francisco Index
177.2
Chicago Index
113.6
San Francisco Rent
$5,250
Chicago Rent
$2,375
San Francisco Home price
$935,000
Chicago Home price
$377,000
Salary equivalent calculator
Enter your current salary in San Francisco to estimate the income needed for a similar lifestyle in Chicago.
Equivalent salary in Chicago
$96,163
Based on the relative overall cost of living between San Francisco 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 Francisco | Chicago | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | 276 | 128 | -148.0 (-53.6%) |
| Groceries | 137 | 106 | -31.0 (-22.6%) |
| Transportation | 125 | 112 | -13.0 (-10.4%) |
| Healthcare | 114 | 104 | -10.0 (-8.8%) |
| Utilities | 112 | 101 | -11.0 (-9.8%) |
| Miscellaneous | 132 | 105 | -27.0 (-20.5%) |
Budget comparison
Single
$8,510 / $5,130
San Francisco / Chicago
Couple
$14,470 / $8,520
San Francisco / Chicago
Family
$21,280 / $12,000
San Francisco / Chicago
Frequently Asked Questions
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View San Francisco city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for San Francisco.
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.