Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chicago, IL
VS
Daly City, CA
🏆 Daly City leads 13 of 23 categories
Chicago
Illinois
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,673
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High
Population
2,721,914 ✓ Larger
Daly City
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$114,910 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
78 ✓ Safer
Population
103,648
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chicago, IL
Pros
Homes cost $769k less ($304,500 vs $1,073,100)
Rent averages $1240/mo less ($1,314 vs $2,554)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Daly City
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Daly City by $43,237/yr
Violent crime (539.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3472.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 5.4%)
Daly City, CA
Pros
Households earn $43,237 more per year on average
45% less violent crime than Chicago
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (5.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 32°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 62°F vs 81°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,073,100
Higher rents — median is $2,554/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Chicago
Key Differences at a Glance
Chicago
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Chicago
Median Home Value
$769k less
$304,500 vs $1,073,100
Chicago
Summer Heat
19.2°F warmer
July avg high 81.0°F vs 61.8°F
Daly City
Median Income
$43,237
$114,910 vs $71,673/yr
Daly City
Violent Crime
45% lower
296.3 vs 539.8 per 100k
Daly City
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
5.4% vs 8.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chicago, IL | Daly City, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $304,500 ✓ Lower | $1,073,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,314 ✓ Lower | $2,554⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,673 | $114,910 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.1 min⚠ High | 29.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.6% ✓ Higher | 10.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | 81 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 142⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 86 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 38.5% |
| High School or Higher | 86.6% | 87.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 | Jefferson Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.9°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.0°F ✓ Warmer | 61.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.4" | 20.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,721,914 ✓ Larger | 103,648 |
| Median Age | 35.3 | 41.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 60.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% ✓ More | 14.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.3% | 19.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chicago's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Daly City's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Chicago is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Daly City leads 13 of 23 categories. Chicago wins 10 and Daly City wins 13. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Chicago to Daly City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,500 vs $1,073,100 median home), income ($71,673 vs $114,910), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chicago, IL and Daly City, CA are about 1,857 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.