City vs city
Chicago vs San Francisco
$100,000 in Chicago buys a lifestyle closer to $160,000 in San Francisco, because San Francisco's cost-of-living index is 178 versus 111.
Chicago
Big-city wages and transit without coastal housing prices. Illinois flat tax plus property taxes matter.
- COL index
- 111
- Typical 1-bed
- $1,850/mo
- Comfortable salary
- $94,000
- $100k take-home
- $74,375
San Francisco
Tech wages are high, but housing absorbs a large share of even six-figure take-home pay.
- COL index
- 178
- Typical 1-bed
- $3,300/mo
- Comfortable salary
- $151,000
- $100k take-home
- $73,957
More comparisons: vs New York Cityvs San Franciscovs San Josevs Oaklandvs Los Angelesvs San Diego