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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Let's be honest: these cities aren't cheap. But within that premium market, there are cities where your dollar stretches meaningfully further. Chicago proves it with a cost index of 134, and we've ranked all 2 contenders to help you find the best deal in an expensive landscape.
Let's be honest: these cities aren't cheap. But within that premium market, there are cities where your dollar stretches meaningfully further. Chicago proves it with a cost index of 134, and we've ranked all 2 contenders to help you find the best deal in an expensive landscape.
The ranking uses a composite of 2026 data from Census Bureau population/income surveys, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary benchmarks, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Chicago (index 134, rent $2,292); San Francisco (index 224, rent $3,830). Each city profile below links to the full detail page with 12-month trends, salary breakdowns, and cost category comparisons.
What does daily life actually cost in Chicago? Start with the 37% rent-to-income ratio — stretched, especially for single earners. On the category level, Healthcare (index 107) is where the real savings show up, while Housing (index 134) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $75,134 — for better or worse — and homes at $312,457 round out a profile that ranks #1 for clear reasons.
Strip away assumptions, and something unexpected emerges. Chicago rent up 5% over the past year. Rent in #1-ranked Chicago has increased from $2,179 — for better or worse — to $2,292/mo over the past 12 months — a 5% increase. Rising costs may erode its top ranking over time. If you plug these numbers into any cost calculator, they hold up.
What to do with this data: use the ranking as a shortlist, then dig into the city profiles for trend lines and category breakdowns. The difference between #1 and #5 is often smaller than the difference between "good on paper" and "actually fits my life." Compare your top picks with our calculator to see real take-home numbers.
#1 Ranked: Chicago, IL — cost index 134, rent $2,292/mo, income $75,134
Chicago rent up 5% over the past year
0 of 2 cities come in below the national cost-of-living average of 111
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
| Rank | City | Cost Index | Median Rent | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ChicagoIL | 134 | $2,292 | Details |
| 2 | San FranciscoCA | 224 | $3,830 | Details |
2,664,452 residents · Illinois
Chicago earns its position at #1 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 134 cost index sits 23 points above the national baseline, and the $75,134 — this is the part where it gets real — median income means purchasing power here is partially offset by higher costs. Homes list at $312,457 — $154,913 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Healthcare leads the way at 107, while Housing trails at 134.
808,988 residents · California
What does daily life actually cost in San Francisco? Start with the 32% rent-to-income ratio — stretched, especially for single earners. On the category level, Healthcare (index 125) is where the real savings show up, while Housing (index 224) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $141,446 and homes at $1,299,230 round out a profile that ranks #2 for clear reasons.
Our cost of living index uses real Zillow rent data as the foundation, indexed to 100 (national median). Sub-categories (housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare) are derived from the overall index with regional adjustments. Data is updated monthly.
Chicago (ranked #1) has a cost index of 134 and rent of $2,292/mo, while San Francisco (ranked #2) has a cost index of 224 and rent of $3,830/mo — a 90-point difference in cost of living.
City data is refreshed monthly from Census Bureau population estimates, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary data, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Last updated: 2026.
The median 1-bedroom rent in Chicago is $2,292/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $397 above the national median of $1,895/month.
The median home price in Chicago is $312,457, which is 4.2× the local median income. It's on the edge of affordability for median-income households. The national median home price is $467,370.
This ranking was generated using data current as of early 2026. Population and income data comes from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year estimates). Rent and home price data is from Zillow's monthly releases. Tax rates are from the Tax Foundation's 2025 edition. Rankings are refreshed monthly.