Chicago vs San Francisco
Side-by-side rent vs buy analysis comparing these two markets
Overall Comparison
Chicago has an edge
Chicago currently favors renting, with better rent-to-price dynamics.
Median Home PriceBETTER
$314,516.51
Median RentBETTER
$2,113.41/mo
Price-to-Rent RatioBETTER
12.4
Property Tax Rate
2.27%
Price Change (1Y)BETTER
+2.9%
Price Change (5Y)BETTER
+14.4%
Break-Even YearsTIE
N/A
10-Year Wealth DifferenceBETTER
$90,658
Median Home Price
$1,245,307.09
Median Rent
$3,679.66/mo
Price-to-Rent Ratio
28.2
Property Tax RateBETTER
0.73%
Price Change (1Y)
+0.9%
Price Change (5Y)
+4.6%
Break-Even YearsTIE
N/A
10-Year Wealth Difference
$1,043,177
Key Differences
Home Prices
Chicago's median home price of $314,516.51 is lower than San Francisco's $1,245,307.09 by 75%.
Monthly Rent
Renting in Chicago costs $2,113.41/mo compared to $3,679.66/mo in San Francisco—a difference of $1,566.25/mo.
Buy vs Rent Verdict
Both cities currently favor renting.
Break-Even Timeline
Break-even analysis varies based on market conditions in each city.
Run Your Own Numbers
This comparison uses median values. Your income, savings, and goals matter. Use our Buy vs Rent calculator to get a personalized analysis.