City Comparison · 2026
San Francisco vs Chicago
Salary, rent, taxes, and purchasing power compared
Purchasing Power
$100k in San Francisco = $64k in Chicago
Metric
San Francisco
Chicago
COL Index
2.14
✓1.38
1BR Monthly Rent
$3,200/mo
✓$2,000/mo
2BR Monthly Rent
$4,200/mo
✓$2,600/mo
State Income Tax
CA
IL
$100k Take-Home
$73,198
✓$73,786
$100k Effective Rate
26.8%
✓26.21%
$100k Savings Potential
$34,798
✓$49,786
After-Tax Income by Salary
| Gross Salary | San Francisco CA | Chicago IL |
|---|---|---|
| $60,000 | $48,276 $4,023/mo · 19.54% eff. | $47,278 $3,940/mo · 21.2% eff. |
| $100,000 | $73,198 $6,100/mo · 26.8% eff. | $73,786 $6,149/mo · 26.21% eff. |
| $150,000 | $103,090 $8,591/mo · 31.27% eff. | $105,853 $8,821/mo · 29.43% eff. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is San Francisco or Chicago cheaper to live in?
San Francisco has a cost-of-living index of 2.14 while Chicago is 1.38 (1.00 = US average). Chicago is cheaper overall. 1BR rent in San Francisco is $3,200/month vs $2,000/month in Chicago.
How much more do you need to earn in San Francisco vs Chicago?
$100k in San Francisco = $64k in Chicago. Cost of living in Chicago is lower by 35.5%.
Which city has better after-tax income — San Francisco or Chicago?
On a $100,000 salary, you take home $73,198 in CA (San Francisco) and $73,786 in IL (Chicago). After accounting for rent, your annual savings potential is $34,798 in San Francisco vs $49,786 in Chicago.
More City Comparisons
California Salary GuideTexas Salary GuideSan Francisco vs New York City cost of livingSan Francisco vs Los Angeles cost of livingSan Francisco vs Chicago cost of livingCost of living in San FranciscoCost of living in New York CityCost of living in Los AngelesSoftware Engineer salary in San FranciscoRegistered Nurse salary in San FranciscoWhere does $100k rank nationally?