Cost of Living Comparison Between Bangor, ME and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Bangor, ME and Chicago, IL

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Bangor, ME is 29.7% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 30% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Bangor, ME is 17.9% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 25% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Bangor, ME
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.73 $14.73
$20.82 $20.82
-29.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68 $68
$100 $100
-32.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.19 $12.19
$11.97 $11.97
1.84%
Cappuccino
$5.74 $5.74
$5.56 $5.56
3.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64 $2.64
$3.11 $3.11
-15.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32 $2.32
$2.42 $2.42
-4.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.55 $5.55
$6.86 $6.86
-19.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.8 $7.8
$8.45 $8.45
-7.69%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Bangor, ME
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.01 $1.01
$1.04 $1.04
-2.88%
White Bread (500g)
$3.54 $3.54
$4.15 $4.15
-14.70%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.97 $1.97
$5.52 $5.52
-64.31%
Eggs
$3.26 $3.26
$4.65 $4.65
-29.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.59 $10.59
$14.33 $14.33
-26.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.85 $7.85
$14.88 $14.88
-47.24%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.66 $15.66
$19.34 $19.34
-19.03%
Apples (1kg)
$5.28 $5.28
$5.17 $5.17
2.13%
Banana (1kg)
$1.19 $1.19
$1.71 $1.71
-30.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.5 $4.5
$4.41 $4.41
2.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.35 $4.35
$4.51 $4.51
-3.55%
Potato (1kg)
$1.16 $1.16
$2.53 $2.53
-54.15%
Onion (1kg)
$3.57 $3.57
$2.74 $2.74
30.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.47 $1.47
$2.43 $2.43
-39.51%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.03 $1.03
$2.7 $2.7
-61.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.93 $9.93
$15.19 $15.19
-34.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.88 $14.88
$16.42 $16.42
-9.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 $1.76
$2.35 $2.35
-25.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 $2.97
$3.7 $3.7
-19.73%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Bangor, ME
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.54 $1.54
$2.53 $2.53
-39.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.04 $2.04
$3.34 $3.34
-38.92%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.36 $2.36
$1.42 $1.42
66.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.68 $29.68
$25.42 $25.42
16.76%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.9 $0.9
$1.08 $1.08
-16.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.4K $23.4K
$32.4K $32.4K
-27.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K $26.7K
$26.2K $26.2K
1.93%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bangor, ME
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$207 $207
$188 $188
9.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$54.6 $54.6
$63.7 $63.7
-14.24%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$79.1 $79.1
$65.2 $65.2
21.27%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Bangor, ME
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.08 $37.08
$76.7 $76.7
-51.67%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.29 $24.29
$13.03 $13.03
86.42%
Cinema Ticket
$9.9 $9.9
$14.93 $14.93
-33.69%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Bangor, ME
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,319 $1,319
$2,063 $2,063
-36.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.5K $23.5K
$39.2K $39.2K
-40.09%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Bangor, ME
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42 $42
$64.3 $64.3
-34.69%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.11 $42.11
$52.4 $52.4
-19.62%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.5 $77.5
$95.2 $95.2
-18.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$66.3 $66.3
$145 $145
-54.20%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Bangor, ME
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,195 $1,195
$2,378 $2,378
-49.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$983 $983
$1,584 $1,584
-37.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,187 $2,187
$4,763 $4,763
-54.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,236 $2,236
$2,815 $2,815
-20.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,174 $2,174
$3,588 $3,588
-39.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,775 $1,775
$2,490 $2,490
-28.73%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Bangor, ME
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,032 $5,032
$5,275 $5,275
-4.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.71
6.6
1.67%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Bangor, ME: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Join the CityCost newsletter โ€“ low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.