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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,184 in Chicago, IL versus $2,394 in Augusta, ME.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,725 in Chicago, IL versus $3,287 in Augusta, ME.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,266 in Chicago, IL versus $4,181 in Augusta, ME.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 33% more expensive than in Augusta, ME, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 131% above, Augusta, ME 74% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.26 $20.26

$20.34 $20.34

-0.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.8 $88.8

$53.5 $53.5

66.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.16 $13.16

$10.28 $10.28

28.02%

Cappuccino

$5.77 $5.77

$5.16 $5.16

11.82%

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

$2.63 $2.63

$2.37 $2.37

10.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$1.57 $1.57

49.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.06 $7.06

$4.95 $4.95

42.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.18 $9.18

$7.69 $7.69

19.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 $1.30

$1.11 $1.11

17.12%

White Bread (500g)

$4.05 $4.05

$4.28 $4.28

-5.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.69 $5.69

$1.52 $1.52

274.34%

Eggs

$4.85 $4.85

$3.89 $3.89

24.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.08 $15.08

$15.11 $15.11

-0.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.87 $14.87

$14.21 $14.21

4.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.28 $19.28

$19.16 $19.16

0.63%

Apples (1kg)

$5.68 $5.68

$7.48 $7.48

-24.06%

Banana (1kg)

$1.93 $1.93

$1.31 $1.31

47.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$3.21 $3.21

27.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.11 $5.11

$4.68 $4.68

9.19%

Potato (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.33 $2.33

25.32%

Onion (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$2.72 $2.72

1.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.30 $2.30

$1.98 $1.98

16.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.04 $3.04

$1.75 $1.75

73.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.93 $15.93

$11.97 $11.97

33.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.06 $15.06

$13.21 $13.21

14.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.63 $1.63

55.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 $3.48

$1.56 $1.56

123.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.8 $74.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.28 $3.28

$2.63 $2.63

24.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.23 $1.23

10.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.55 $22.55

$28.30 $28.30

-20.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$0.90 $0.90

35.56%

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

$36.1K $36.1K

$35.9K $35.9K

0.62%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$24.3K $24.3K

6.74%

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

$188 $188

$254 $254

-25.69%

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

$69.0 $69.0

$45.47 $45.47

51.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.6 $63.6

$61.4 $61.4

3.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.4 $63.4

$22.46 $22.46

182.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.11 $27.11

Cinema Ticket

$17.90 $17.90

$13.92 $13.92

28.59%

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

$1,526 $1,526

$2,849 $2,849

-46.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

$36.3K $36.3K

-12.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.1 $62.1

$73.3 $73.3

-15.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.4 $56.4

$48.83 $48.83

15.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$118 $118

-14.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$156 $156

$169 $169

-7.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,342 $2,342

$1,222 $1,222

91.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,698 $1,698

$1,085 $1,085

56.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,576 $4,576

$1,577 $1,577

190.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,806 $2,806

$1,470 $1,470

90.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,130 $4,130

$2,357 $2,357

75.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,740 $2,740

$2,375 $2,375

15.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,891 $4,891

$1,970 $1,970

148.31%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.28

1.59%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: September 6, 2026

Last update for Augusta, ME: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,342 in Chicago, IL and $1,222 in Augusta, ME. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 148% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $89.0 in Chicago, IL vs $53.0 in Augusta, ME for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $465 vs $410 per month, with Augusta, ME cheaper across the board.

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

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

Chicago, IL and Augusta, ME differ by about 33% in total monthly costs ($3,184 vs $2,394 including rent). Augusta, ME is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 148% higher in Chicago, IL, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,342 in Chicago, IL versus $1,222 in Augusta, ME. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,526 in Chicago, IL versus $2,849 in Augusta, ME. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Augusta, ME – a meal for two runs $53.0 versus $89.0 in Chicago, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,394 in Augusta, ME versus $3,184 in Chicago, IL, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Augusta, ME but tight or insufficient in Chicago, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Augusta, ME the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Augusta, ME gentler on the wallet – expenses run 33% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.