Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in San Francisco County, CA would need to be about $37,315 in Cook County, IL, or $12,685 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
San Francisco County, CA vs Cook County, IL: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Cook County, IL is cheaper than San Francisco County, CA.
Moving to Cook County, IL is estimated to save $18,830 per year.
Cheaper County
Cook County, ILSave about $18,830 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in San Francisco County, CA is about $37,315 in Cook County, IL.
Biggest drivers
Transport increases by $1,382 per year. Housing saves $8,225 per year.
Housing: $8,225 lower in Cook County, IL
Taxes: $5,760 lower in Cook County, IL
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $2,267 lower in Cook County, IL
Food: $1,073 lower in Cook County, IL
Transport: $1,382 higher in Cook County, IL
San Francisco County, CA→Cook County, IL
Equivalent salary in Cook County, IL
$37,315
-25.37% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in San Francisco County, CA: $165,603
Median Income in Cook County, IL: $102,297
Living Index in San Francisco County, CA 44.82%
Living Index in Cook County, IL 54.16%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from San Francisco County, CA to Cook County, IL.
* Living index is estimated as (estimated total cost / area median income) * 100. A living index above 100% means modeled costs exceed median income.
Cost of Living Breakdown by Category
Summary
Moving from San Francisco County, CA to Cook County, IL is estimated to save $18,830 per year. A $50,000 salary in San Francisco County, CA would have similar purchasing power to about $37,315 in Cook County, IL. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.
This is a -25.37% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $8,225 per year lower (-32.38%); Taxes is $5,760 per year lower (-32.93%).
Below we break down the annual categories behind the difference using Economic Policy Institute 2026 Family Budget data.
Why this comparison matters
These notes use the actual annual cost differences between San Francisco County, CA and Cook County, IL, so the page highlights the budget tradeoffs behind the total.
Affordability vs median income
Modeled annual costs equal about 44.8% of median family income in San Francisco County, CA and 54.2% in Cook County, IL. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $8,225 per year lower in Cook County, IL than in San Francisco County, CA. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether Cook County, IL changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $1,073 per year lower in Cook County, IL than in San Francisco County, CA. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Cook County, IL can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $1,382 per year higher in Cook County, IL than in San Francisco County, CA. Transportation matters for commuters because driving distance, vehicle costs, and transit access can change how much of a salary is left after getting around Cook County, IL.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $2,267 per year lower in Cook County, IL than in San Francisco County, CA. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Cook County, IL changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $2,886 per year lower in Cook County, IL than in San Francisco County, CA. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Cook County, IL help explain the non-housing costs that can quietly add up month after month.
Childcare
Childcare is about the same in San Francisco County, CA and Cook County, IL, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Cook County, IL, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $5,760 per year lower in Cook County, IL than in San Francisco County, CA. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Cook County, IL matters even if the headline salary looks similar before deductions.
What changed the most?
The following cards show the annual category differences that most affect the move to Cook County, IL.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Cook County, IL
Annual Increase:
$1,382 per year
TRANSPORT has the largest annual increase when moving to Cook County, IL.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Cook County, IL
Annual Savings:
$8,225 per year
HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Cook County, IL.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -32% lower | |
| Food | -19% lower | |
| Transport | 16% higher | |
| Healthcare | -31% lower | |
| Other Costs | -30% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -33% lower |
In Cook County, IL, modeled annual costs are $55,399 compared with $74,229 in San Francisco County, CA.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Cook County, IL. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Cook County, IL and San Francisco County, CA are both metropolitan locations.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
