Cost of living comparison
Chicago is 10.3% cheaper than San Francisco.
- Restaurants
-
pay 4.1% more in Chicago
- Groceries
-
pay 26.5% less in Chicago
- Transportation
-
pay 21.6% less in Chicago
- Housing
-
pay 28.5% less in Chicago
- Childcare
-
pay 0.6% less in Chicago
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 5.3% less in Chicago
- Clothing
-
pay 6.0% more in Chicago
The cost of clothing and restaurants in Chicago are more expensive than in San Francisco. Expenses including housing, groceries, transportation, entertainment and sports, and childcare are lower in Chicago.
If you lived in Chicago instead of San Francisco, you would:
pay 4.1% more for restaurants
|
San Francisco
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$25.00
|
$25.00
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$12.00
|
$11.34
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.83
|
$3.02
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$2.20
|
$2.44
|
|
pay 26.5% less for groceries
|
San Francisco
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$4.86
|
$4.19
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$11.38
|
$7.87
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$5.98
|
$3.94
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$5.32
|
$3.75
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$6.49
|
$6.63
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$3.26
|
$2.44
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$1.47
|
$0.90
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.54
|
$2.19
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$3.74
|
$2.27
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$2.01
|
$1.16
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.86
|
$1.37
|
|
pay 21.6% less for transportation
|
San Francisco
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$5.27
|
$4.16
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$98.00
|
$75.00
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$36,753.89
|
$31,965.00
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$20.31
|
$14.43
|
|
pay 28.5% less for housing
|
San Francisco
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$65.19
|
$58.52
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$3,110.17
|
$2,360.96
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$2,750.00
|
$1,512.92
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$194.16
|
$126.63
|
|
pay 0.6% less for childcare
|
San Francisco
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$2,829.63
|
$2,475.00
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$38,000.00
|
$42,300.00
|
|
pay 5.3% less for entertainment and sports
|
San Francisco
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$8.00
|
$7.50
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.64
|
$5.30
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$14.00
|
$17.00
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$94.53
|
$72.00
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$17.00
|
$15.00
|
|
pay 6.0% more for clothing
|
San Francisco
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$61.43
|
$64.98
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$45.08
|
$51.67
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$104.32
|
$97.00
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$131.92
|
$146.00
|
|
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