Chicago Vs. San Francisco (cost of living, cost , community)

[rob1in]

I was wondering which was the better of the two, San Francisco or Chicago. I've visited both and can say I love both. They are both sophisticated and cultural. It seems that Chicago is more middle american culturally and in other ways though and not for obvious reasons. What do you think?

[Attrill]

Both are very different, but they are both among my favorite cities in the world (I have lived in both). The pluses for Chicago are a lower cost of living, more restaurants, better public transit (not nicer, but much more integrated and extensive), and more open minded. San Franciso has better weather, beautiful landscape, and a more active arts community (but you need to find the arts groups that likes your art). Living in SF I met a lot of people who would talk about what they were going to do month after month and they never did anything. In Chicago if someone says they are having an opening in a month, they really are!