Chicago, IL vs San Francisco, CA: internet compared
Thinking of moving between Chicago and San Francisco? Here is how home internet compares in the two cities, based on FCC data as of December 31, 2025 and Census statistics.
San Francisco, CA leads for fiber availability (44% vs 33%). San Francisco, CA leads for gigabit-class availability (74% vs 55%).
| Chicago, IL | San Francisco, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents | 2,707,648 | 836,321 |
| Median household income | $75,134 | $141,446 |
| Can get fiber | 33% | 44% |
| Can get cable | 99% | 97% |
| Can get DSL | 44% | 23% |
| Can get fixed wireless | 90% | 99%+ |
| Can get gigabit | 55% | 74% |
| Households with broadband | 87% | 92% |
Top providers
| Chicago, IL | San Francisco, CA |
|---|---|
| Xfinity: 99% | Xfinity: 98% |
| AT&T: 89% | AT&T: 97% |
| T-Mobile Home Internet: 87% | Unwired: 94% |
| Verizon: 64% | Etheric Communications: 77% |
| Astound Broadband: 54% | T-Mobile Home Internet: 73% |
Coverage percentages are the share of residential locations where each provider reports service. Availability varies by address.
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Internet in Chicago, IL · Internet in San Francisco, CA · Compare any two ZIP codes · Rankings