Chicago, IL vs San Francisco, CA
Cost of living comparison · 2023 Census ACS data
Quick Summary
San Francisco is materially more expensive on housing — $1.4 million for a typical home compared with $315,000 in Chicago, a gap of roughly 77%. State income-tax burden also tilts toward Chicago — a top rate of 5.0% versus 13.3% — which compounds at higher incomes.
Median Home Value
$315,200 ✓
$1,380,500
Zillow Home Value
$312,456
$1,299,229
Median Gross Rent
$1,380/mo ✓
$2,419/mo
Owner Occupied %
45.5%
38.5%
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.0x
47.6x
Median Household Income
$75,134
$141,446 ✓
Per Capita Income
$48,148
$90,285
Unemployment Rate
7.9%
5.6% ✓
Poverty Rate
16.8%
10.6%
Avg Commute (min)
36.7 min
34.2 min
Drove Alone %
46.0%
28.6%
Public Transit %
19.3%
21.4%
Work From Home %
18.3%
27.5%
State Income Tax
5.0%
13.3%
Total Sales Tax
8.7%
8.7% ✓
Property Tax Rate
2.2%
0.7%
Bachelor's Degree %
24.9%
35.1%
Median Age
35.7
39.7
Avg High Temp
60.3°F
—
Annual Precipitation
34.4"
30"
Chicago, IL 2 wins
- ✓Median Home Value
- ✓Median Gross Rent
San Francisco, CA 3 wins
- ✓Total Sales Tax
- ✓Median Household Income
- ✓Unemployment Rate
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