Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Belfast, ME: $2,603 a month against $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $5,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

126

Cost of Living Index in Belfast, ME
Learn more

Belfast, ME Living Index
147

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
Learn more

Chicago, IL Living Index

Jump to prices

Belfast, ME

🇺🇸 United States

$2,603

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Belfast, ME and in Chicago, IL

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Belfast, ME and in Chicago, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,603 per month in Belfast, ME vs $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Belfast, ME $2,603
Chicago, IL $3,037

A couple spends around $3,832 per month in Belfast, ME vs $4,518 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Belfast, ME $3,832
Chicago, IL $4,518

A family of three spends $5,060 per month in Belfast, ME vs $5,999 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Belfast, ME $5,060
Chicago, IL $5,999

Belfast, ME is about 14% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Belfast, ME and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Belfast, ME by 91%, Chicago, IL by 123%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.23 $20.23

$20.71 $20.71

-2.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.3 $76.3

$89.2 $89.2

-14.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.37 $11.37

$13.19 $13.19

-13.80%

Cappuccino

$5.47 $5.47

$5.66 $5.66

-3.36%

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

$2.59 $2.59

$2.64 $2.64

-1.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.28 $2.28

-14.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.94 $5.94

$6.87 $6.87

-13.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.39 $7.39

$8.84 $8.84

-16.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.25 $1.25

-16.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.58 $3.58

$3.72 $3.72

-3.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.44 $4.44

$5.39 $5.39

-17.63%

Eggs

$4.10 $4.10

$4.74 $4.74

-13.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.58 $12.58

$13.84 $13.84

-9.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.82 $11.82

$14.40 $14.40

-17.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.14 $17.14

$18.38 $18.38

-6.75%

Apples (1kg)

$4.98 $4.98

$5.22 $5.22

-4.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.98 $1.98

-20.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.42 $4.42

$4.06 $4.06

8.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.05 $4.05

$4.97 $4.97

-18.51%

Potato (1kg)

$2.89 $2.89

$2.67 $2.67

8.24%

Onion (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.66 $2.66

9.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.14 $2.14

$2.24 $2.24

-4.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.31 $2.31

$3.13 $3.13

-26.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.18 $10.18

$13.82 $13.82

-26.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.97 $14.97

$14.88 $14.88

0.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.13 $2.13

$2.54 $2.54

-16.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 $3.44

$3.51 $3.51

-1.99%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.79 $1.79

$2.43 $2.43

-26.34%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$59.0 $59.0

$73.5 $73.5

-19.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.31 $3.31

$3.18 $3.18

4.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.39 $1.39

42.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.30 $26.30

$25.03 $25.03

5.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 $0.99

$1.20 $1.20

-17.50%

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

$28.5K $28.5K

$35.0K $35.0K

-18.68%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$26.7K $26.7K

-2.28%

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

$202 $202

$194 $194

3.99%

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

$58.9 $58.9

$69.5 $69.5

-15.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.7 $69.7

$61.6 $61.6

13.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.70 $40.70

$47.90 $47.90

-15.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

Cinema Ticket

$12.27 $12.27

$17.81 $17.81

-31.11%

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

$1,382 $1,382

$1,794 $1,794

-22.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.3K $24.3K

$31.9K $31.9K

-23.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.8 $52.8

$67.0 $67.0

-21.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.70 $40.70

$52.1 $52.1

-21.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 $88.6

$102 $102

-12.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 $112

$144 $144

-21.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,570 $1,570

$2,526 $2,526

-37.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,272 $1,272

$1,578 $1,578

-19.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,533 $2,533

$4,738 $4,738

-46.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,133 $2,133

$2,693 $2,693

-20.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,799 $2,799

$4,190 $4,190

-33.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,330 $2,330

$2,768 $2,768

-15.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,931 $4,931

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.57

6.81

-3.52%

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

Last update for Belfast, ME: October 24, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Belfast, ME

$1.3K 48.9%

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52% 24.1% $306

Groceries & Markets

Belfast, ME

$399 15.3%

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7% 12% $48

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Belfast, ME

$331 12.7%

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7% 1.6% $5.2

Eating Out

Belfast, ME

$324 12.5%

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4% 6.4% $21

Clothing & Footwear

Belfast, ME

$133 5.1%

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4% 23.8% $31

Getting Around

Belfast, ME

$79 3.1%

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1% 17.8% $14

Sport & Entertainment

Belfast, ME

$65 2.5%

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8% 28% $18

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,570 in Belfast, ME versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $76 in Belfast, ME versus $89 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $399 vs $447 – making Belfast, ME the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Belfast, ME

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

13:45 1:45 PM

12:45 12:45 PM

1 h behind Belfast, ME

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

6,800

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.898 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Belfast, ME Chicago, IL 1,530 km ≈ 2 h 30 min nonstop flight

From you

Belfast, ME
Chicago, IL

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Belfast, ME vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Chicago, IL is pricier by about 17%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,904 per month in Belfast, ME and $4,555 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Belfast, ME, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,570 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

Public transport costs about 20% less in Belfast, ME. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $1,382 per month in Belfast, ME and $1,794 in Chicago, IL. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,603 in Belfast, ME and $3,037 in Chicago, IL. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Belfast, ME – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

For expats, Belfast, ME is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and the 17% gap matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.