San Francisco is about 12% more expensive than Chicago overall — $100,000 in Chicago is worth about $111,601 in San Francisco.
Chicago vs San Francisco: the numbers
| Metric | Chicago | San Francisco | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost-of-living index (US=100) | 104 | 116 | +12% |
| Median rent | $1,380 | $2,419 | +75% |
| Median home value | $315,200 | $1,380,500 | +338% |
| Median household income | $75,134 | $141,446 | +88% |
Cost of living = BEA Regional Price Parities (US average = 100). Rent, home value, and income from the U.S. Census ACS. See our methodology.
What your salary is worth
A $100,000 salary in Chicago has the same buying power as about $111,601 in San Francisco. Going the other way, $100,000 in San Francisco is like $89,605 in Chicago.
Use the calculator below to compare any salary between Chicago and San Francisco.