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

🙂 Solo nomad: Belfast, ME is 10.7% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 14.7% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Belfast, ME is 17.1% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 21.5% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.75 $18.75

$20.82 $20.82

-9.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.2 $74.2

$100 $100

-26.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.92 $10.92

$11.97 $11.97

-8.77%

Cappuccino

$5.05 $5.05

$5.56 $5.56

-9.17%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.5 $2.5

$3.11 $3.11

-19.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.42 $2.42

-19.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.96 $5.96

$6.86 $6.86

-13.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.03 $7.03

$8.45 $8.45

-16.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.04 $1.04

0.96%

White Bread (500g)

$3.5 $3.5

$4.15 $4.15

-15.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.48 $4.48

$5.52 $5.52

-18.84%

Eggs

$4.15 $4.15

$4.65 $4.65

-10.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.04 $12.04

$14.33 $14.33

-15.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.43 $11.43

$14.88 $14.88

-23.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.24 $15.24

$19.34 $19.34

-21.20%

Apples (1kg)

$4.82 $4.82

$5.17 $5.17

-6.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.71 $1.71

-7.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.15 $4.15

$4.41 $4.41

-5.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.78 $4.78

$4.51 $4.51

5.99%

Potato (1kg)

$2.91 $2.91

$2.53 $2.53

15.02%

Onion (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.74 $2.74

6.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.43 $2.43

-16.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$2.7 $2.7

-18.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.43 $9.43

$15.19 $15.19

-37.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.92 $13.92

$16.42 $16.42

-15.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.8 $1.8

$2.35 $2.35

-23.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.46 $3.46

$3.7 $3.7

-6.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.05 $2.05

$2.53 $2.53

-18.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.46 $3.46

$3.34 $3.34

3.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.42 $1.42

16.20%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.34 $29.34

$25.42 $25.42

15.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$1.08 $1.08

-17.59%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$29.6K $29.6K

$32.4K $32.4K

-8.66%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.8K $25.8K

$26.2K $26.2K

-1.54%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$186 $186

$188 $188

-1.16%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$52.6 $52.6

$63.7 $63.7

-17.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69 $69

$65.2 $65.2

5.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.62 $42.62

$76.7 $76.7

-44.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$13.36 $13.36

$14.93 $14.93

-10.52%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,283 $1,283

$2,063 $2,063

-37.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.7K $23.7K

$39.2K $39.2K

-39.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.7 $50.7

$64.3 $64.3

-21.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.17 $40.17

$52.4 $52.4

-23.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.1 $87.1

$95.2 $95.2

-8.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 $114

$145 $145

-21.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,627 $1,627

$2,378 $2,378

-31.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,369 $1,369

$1,584 $1,584

-13.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,651 $2,651

$4,763 $4,763

-44.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,200 $2,200

$2,815 $2,815

-21.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,792 $2,792

$3,588 $3,588

-22.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,430 $2,430

$2,490 $2,490

-2.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

6.6

-1.36%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Belfast, ME: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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