Chicago, IL vs San Diego, CA: sales tax compared
Quick answer
Chicago, IL is the higher-tax metro at 10.25%, versus 7.75% in San Diego, CA. The 2.5% gap works out to $2.50 on a $100 purchase, $25.00 on $1,000 and $625.00 on a $25,000 purchase.
- Rate gap
- 2.5%Percentage points, combined rate
- Extra tax on $1,000
- $25.00Paid in Chicago
- Extra tax on $25,000
- $625.00Vehicle-sized purchase
Chicago, IL
Cook County
10.25%
Combined rate · ranked #4 of 94 covered metros
| Level | Jurisdiction | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| state | Illinois state | 6.25% |
| county | Cook County | 1.75% |
| city | City of Chicago | 1.25% |
| special district | Regional Transportation Authority | 1% |
- Population
- 2,664,452
- Median household income
- $71,673
Chicago's 10.25% is the highest combined rate among the largest US cities, and groceries and prescription drugs are taxed at a reduced 1% state rate.
San Diego, CA
San Diego County
7.75%
Combined rate · ranked #51 of 94 covered metros
| Level | Jurisdiction | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| state | California state (incl. mandatory local) | 7.25% |
| special district | San Diego County TransNet and countywide districts | 0.5% |
- Population
- 1,381,162
- Median household income
- $98,657
California's 7.25% base already bundles a 1.25% mandatory local share; only the district add-ons vary, and San Diego city carries fewer of them than most large California cities.
How the difference is calculated
Same arithmetic the calculator on every page runs.
Each combined rate is the sum of its listed state, county, city and special-district components — no rounding is applied before the total. The dollar gap is the rate difference (2.5%) applied to the pre-tax amount: 2.5% of $1,000 is $25.00. Neither figure includes product-specific exemptions; groceries, clothing and digital goods can be taxed at a different rate or not at all, which is covered on each state's rules page.
Questions people ask
Direct answers to the questions this comparison raises.
Which has a higher sales tax rate, Chicago or San Diego?
Chicago, IL at 10.25%, versus 7.75% in San Diego, CA.
How much more sales tax would I pay in Chicago on a $1,000 purchase?
About $25.00 more, and roughly $625.00 more on a $25,000 vehicle-sized purchase.
Why do Chicago and San Diego have different rates?
The state share is 6.25% in IL and 7.25% in CA. The rest comes from county, city and special-district increments stacked on top, which are set locally and listed in full on this page.
Related comparisons
Other comparisons involving Chicago.