Median rent is 49% lower in Chicago ($1,440/mo vs $2,802/mo). Buying is cheaper in Chicago, where the median home runs $334,100 versus $1,188,800. Households earn more in South San Francisco ($136,578 vs $77,902 a year).
City A
Chicago, IL
City B
South San Francisco, CA
How much would you need to earn in South San Francisco, CA to maintain your standard of living from Chicago, IL?
A cost-of-living index isn't available for one of these cities yet, so we can't compute an equivalent salary.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each metro area. This estimates overall purchasing power; it does not account for taxes or take-home pay differences.
Metric
Chicago
Illinois
South San Francisco
California
Population
Median Household Income
Annual
Median Gross Rent
Per month
Median Home Value
Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: Census ACS, BEA, HUD Fair Market Rents, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Renters will find significantly cheaper housing in Chicago — median rent of $1,440/mo versus $2,802/mo in South San Francisco, a 49% difference. Home buyers face a steeper market in South San Francisco: the median home is $1,188,800 versus $334,100 in Chicago — 72% more expensive.
Metric
Chicago
South San Francisco
Software Developer
Registered Nurse
Elementary Teacher
Electrician
Accountant
Higher wage highlighted · BLS OEWS 2023 (metro-level data)
State tax data is not yet available for these cities.
Chicago
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
South San Francisco
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Air quality data is available for Chicago (avg AQI 31.0) but not yet for South San Francisco.
Pick South San Francisco if you prioritize higher median household income ($136,578/yr).
Pick Chicago if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,440/mo median).
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
Median rent is $1,440/mo in Chicago, IL and $2,802/mo in South San Francisco, CA. Chicago, IL has the lower rent by about 49%.
Median household income is $77,902 in Chicago, IL and $136,578 in South San Francisco, CA. South San Francisco, CA has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Air quality data is not yet available for one or both cities.
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
RPP data needed for salary equivalence calculation is not yet available.
Data last updated: June 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
