Cost of Living Comparison
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The most comprehensive cost of living comparison tool for US cities. Make informed relocation decisions with real data from trusted sources.

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Data

  • San Francisco
  • New York
  • Austin
  • Denver

Top Routes

  • NYC → Austin
  • LA → Phoenix
  • SF → Denver
  • Chicago → Dallas

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Data: Zillow • Census • FBI • NOAA • BLS

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San FranciscovsChicago

Moving from San Francisco to Chicago will save you approximately $357,605 on median home prices (40.5% less). Monthly rent is $1,490 cheaper in Chicago. Note that median income is 11.7% lower in Chicago.

Housing
40.5% cheaper
Rent
40.5% cheaper
View San FranciscoView Chicago
Chicago

Side-by-Side Comparison

Origin

San Francisco, CA

Median Home Price$882,879
Monthly Rent$3,679
Median Income$82,922
Population864,816
Destination

Chicago, IL

Median Home Price
$525,274-40.5%
Monthly Rent
$2,189-40.5%
Median Income
$73,194-11.7%
Population2,720,556
Housing

Rent History & Trends

Understanding how rental prices have changed over time helps predict future affordability and make informed decisions about your move.

San Francisco

2015$3,234
2020$2,856
2025$3,679

Chicago

2015$1,513
2020$1,592
2025$2,189

Annual Cost of Living

A comprehensive breakdown of annual living expenses helps you budget effectively for your new life in Chicago.

San Francisco

Housing$14,527
Food$6,850
Transport$14,083
Healthcare$11,373
Total$68,844

Chicago

Housing$7,516
Food$5,442
Transport$13,003
Healthcare$12,465
Total$50,964
Costs

Key Insights

40.5%
Housing Cost
cheaper in Chicago
$1,490
Monthly Rent Difference
savings per month
11.7%
Income Level
lower median income

Demographics

San Francisco

Population864,816
Median Age38.3 yrs
Violent Crime Rate481 per 100k
Property Crime Rate2165 per 100k

Chicago

Population2,720,556
Median Age34.2 yrs
Violent Crime Rate345 per 100k
Property Crime Rate1393 per 100k

Safety & Crime Statistics

San Francisco

481
Violent Crime Rate (per 100k)
2165
Property Crime Rate (per 100k)

Chicago

345
Violent Crime Rate (per 100k)
1393
Property Crime Rate (per 100k)

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in Chicago or San Francisco?

Chicago is 40.5% cheaper for housing than San Francisco. The median home price in Chicago is $525,274 compared to $882,879 in San Francisco, a savings of $357,605.

What is the rent difference between San Francisco and Chicago?

Monthly rent in Chicago averages $2,189, while San Francisco averages $3,679. That's a savings of $1,490 per month, or $17,880 annually.

How do incomes compare between San Francisco and Chicago?

The median household income in Chicago is $73,194, which is 11.7% lower than San Francisco's median of $82,922.

Which city is safer: San Francisco or Chicago?

San Francisco has a violent crime rate of 481 per 100k residents, while Chicago has 345 per 100k. Chicago is statistically safer.

What is Estates?

Estates is a comprehensive cost of living comparison platform covering over 3,900 US cities. We help you compare housing prices, rent, income levels, crime rates, demographics, and climate data to make informed relocation decisions. Our data comes from trusted sources including Zillow, the U.S. Census Bureau, FBI, and NOAA.