How should I request for a job transfer with salary increase and moving cost reimbursement?

My firm is opening a new branch in San Francisco; they are currently recruiting employees from the Chicago office. I would like to ask to be transferred but living costs in SF are much higher than Chicago. How should I present my transfer request in order to get a raise to cover the living cost and possibly moving cost? I recently had a good review and a salary increase but still not enough to live comfortably in SF.

Apply and interview for the transfer. During the interview, ask if base salary is based on region and if your current rate in Chicago will transfer to the equivalent in SF - you aren't asking for a raise, you're asking for an equivalent level of compensation. Mention your concerns directly regarding the higher cost of living in SF and follow it up by asking if they cover moving expenses at this time as well. Most likely there is already a policy in existence for your company if they're recruiting from other branches - I guarantee they know how expensive it is to live in SF since they've already decided to open a branch there.

I wouldn't trust generic information about cost of living. If you know anyone in SF, try to find out exactly how much it costs for them to live: rent, food, taxes, insurance rates, etc. Figure out exactly what you'll need to maintain your current standard of living there. If your employer isn't able to match that, then you'll have to decide to either politely decline the job for those reasons and stay put in Chicago or to take a temporary drop in pay to relocate.

Hope that helps!