Chicago vs San Francisco
Side-by-side comparison of cost of living, state income tax, housing estimates, and salary equivalents between Chicago, IL and San Francisco, CA.
Chicago, IL
COL Index
107
Monthly Budget
$5,350
State Tax
5.0%
Population
2.7M
San Francisco, CA
COL Index
179
Monthly Budget
$8,950
State Tax
12.3%
Population
0.9M
Chicago is 67% less expensive than San Francisco
Monthly Cost Breakdown
Estimated monthly costs for a typical household in each city.
| Category | Chicago | San Francisco | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | $1,823 | $3,605 | -$1,782 |
| Groceries | $686 | $1,061 | -$375 |
| Transport | $850 | $1,369 | -$519 |
| Healthcare | $420 | $621 | -$201 |
| Utilities | $321 | $537 | -$216 |
| Other | $1,267 | $1,958 | -$691 |
| Total | $5,350 | $8,950 | -$3,600 |
Tax Comparison on $100K Salary
Estimated annual taxes for a single filer earning $100,000 in each city.
| Component | Chicago (IL) | San Francisco (CA) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Tax | $13,170 | $13,170 | $0 |
| State Tax | $4,950 | $5,953 | -$1,003 |
| FICA | $7,650 | $7,650 | $0 |
| Total Tax | $25,770 | $26,773 | -$1,003 |
| Take-Home Pay | $74,230 | $73,227 | +$1,003 |
Salary Equivalent
What a Chicago salary is worth in San Francisco (and vice versa), adjusted for cost of living.
| Chicago Salary | Equivalent in San Francisco | San Francisco Salary | Equivalent in Chicago |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $83,645 | $50,000 | $29,888 |
| $75,000 | $125,467 | $75,000 | $44,832 |
| $100,000 | $167,290 | $100,000 | $59,777 |
| $150,000 | $250,935 | $150,000 | $89,665 |