Cost of Living Comparison Between San Francisco, CA and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between San Francisco, CA and Chicago, IL

😐 Solo nomad: San Francisco, CA is 20.4% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 51.9% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: San Francisco, CA is 22.2% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 39.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Francisco, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.77 $24.77
$20.82 $20.82
18.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$131 $131
$100 $100
30.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.79 $14.79
$11.97 $11.97
23.56%
Cappuccino
$5.84 $5.84
$5.56 $5.56
5.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.28 $3.28
$3.11 $3.11
5.47%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 $2.48
$2.42 $2.42
2.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.9 $7.9
$6.86 $6.86
15.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.12 $8.12
$8.45 $8.45
-3.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Francisco, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.47 $1.47
$1.04 $1.04
41.35%
White Bread (500g)
$5.18 $5.18
$4.15 $4.15
24.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.61 $6.61
$5.52 $5.52
19.75%
Eggs
$5.97 $5.97
$4.65 $4.65
28.39%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$23.1 $23.1
$14.33 $14.33
61.20%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.26 $15.26
$14.88 $14.88
2.55%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$23.64 $23.64
$19.34 $19.34
22.23%
Apples (1kg)
$6.94 $6.94
$5.17 $5.17
34.24%
Banana (1kg)
$2.77 $2.77
$1.71 $1.71
61.99%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.32 $5.32
$4.41 $4.41
20.63%
Tomato (1kg)
$7.41 $7.41
$4.51 $4.51
64.30%
Potato (1kg)
$3.85 $3.85
$2.53 $2.53
52.17%
Onion (1kg)
$3.85 $3.85
$2.74 $2.74
40.51%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.89 $2.89
$2.43 $2.43
18.93%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.87 $2.87
$2.7 $2.7
6.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.06 $14.06
$15.19 $15.19
-7.44%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.87 $17.87
$16.42 $16.42
8.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.64 $2.64
$2.35 $2.35
12.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.29 $3.29
$3.7 $3.7
-11.08%
🚌 Getting Around
San Francisco, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.04 $3.04
$2.53 $2.53
20.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$95.1 $95.1
$74.1 $74.1
28.32%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.11 $4.11
$3.34 $3.34
23.05%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 $2.05
$1.42 $1.42
44.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$39.34 $39.34
$25.42 $25.42
54.76%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.33 $1.33
$1.08 $1.08
23.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K $34.7K
$32.4K $32.4K
6.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$26.2K $26.2K
-0.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Francisco, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$225 $225
$188 $188
19.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$64.6 $64.6
$63.7 $63.7
1.44%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.6 $67.6
$65.2 $65.2
3.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Francisco, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$100 $100
$76.7 $76.7
30.55%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.65 $12.65
$13.03 $13.03
-2.92%
Cinema Ticket
$17.04 $17.04
$14.93 $14.93
14.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Francisco, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,218 $3,218
$2,063 $2,063
56.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$38.1K $38.1K
$39.2K $39.2K
-2.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Francisco, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.7 $67.7
$64.3 $64.3
5.22%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.18 $45.18
$52.4 $52.4
-13.76%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 $101
$95.2 $95.2
5.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$150 $150
$145 $145
3.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Francisco, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,301 $3,301
$2,378 $2,378
38.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,747 $2,747
$1,584 $1,584
73.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$5,371 $5,371
$4,763 $4,763
12.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$4,500 $4,500
$2,815 $2,815
59.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$10.8K $10.8K
$3,588 $3,588
201.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$9,649 $9,649
$2,490 $2,490
287.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Francisco, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$7,014 $7,014
$5,275 $5,275
32.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.36
6.6
-3.64%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for San Francisco, CA: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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