with $100k coming in, swapping out of Chicago

change
San Francisco, CA cityscape

next stop after chicago

San Francisco

ca · metro 4.6M

photo: Andrew Whitmore / unsplash

a dispatch from

san francisco

CA

37.77°N

122.42°W

San Francisco is hills, fog, Mission burritos the size of forearms, and pastel Victorians stacked like dominoes. Karl the Fog has his own Instagram, the cable cars are still mechanically pulled by cables running under the street, and the Pacific shows up at the end of every west-bound avenue. The food is wildly good, the views are theatrical, and yes, you'll get cardio just walking to the corner store.

metro4.6M

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01 · the verdict

the verdict

$1,339

more expensive each month than Chicago

A real premium for San Francisco. Worth it only if the city itself is the whole point.
landable, recorded on the san francisco entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$3,146/mo

45% more expensive than Chicago(vs $2,170/mo)

02state income tax

9.3%

$363/mo more in state tax than Chicago

vs 4.95% in Chicago

03after rent

$4,412/mo

$1,339 less than Chicago

gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.

04a house here

$1239k

240% more expensive than Chicago

vs $365k in Chicago

05metro size

4.6M

vs 9.3M in Chicago

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

312

pleasant days a year, in san francisco.

Chicago keeps to 153 pleasant days a year.

Noticeably quieter than Chicago. About 80% fewer events on a typical month.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

83/100

19% higher than Chicago

vs 70/100 in Chicago

Closest outdoor draw: Golden Gate National Recreation Area, 1.5 mi.

·walk score®

99/100

1% lower than Chicago

vs 100/100 in Chicago

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

111

49% fewer than Chicago

vs 217 nonstops in Chicago

04 · see also

same energy as san francisco, different zip code:

see also

san diego

$256/mo cheaper

turn the page

see also

honolulu

$162/mo cheaper

turn the page

see also

los angeles

$247/mo cheaper

turn the page

compare san francisco with:

San DiegoHonoluluLos Angeles