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: $3,077 in Chicago, IL versus $2,234 in Augusta, ME.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,628 in Chicago, IL versus $3,205 in Augusta, ME.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,179 in Chicago, IL versus $4,175 in Augusta, ME.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 38% more expensive than Augusta, ME, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 130% above, Augusta, ME 67% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.91 $20.91

$20.02 $20.02

4.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.1 $98.1

$75.1 $75.1

30.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$7.72 $7.72

53.63%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$4.97 $4.97

12.68%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.30 $2.30

33.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.87 $1.87

32.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.14 $7.14

$5.05 $5.05

41.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.08 $8.08

$5.95 $5.95

35.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.10 $1.10

-4.55%

White Bread (500g)

$4.11 $4.11

$3.57 $3.57

15.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

$1.77 $1.77

216.95%

Eggs

$4.51 $4.51

$3.66 $3.66

23.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.27 $14.27

$16.82 $16.82

-15.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.89 $14.89

$12.10 $12.10

23.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.19 $19.19

$18.64 $18.64

2.95%

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$4.44 $4.44

15.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.27 $1.27

39.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$3.13 $3.13

40.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.56 $4.56

$6.48 $6.48

-29.63%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.21 $2.21

14.93%

Onion (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$3.20 $3.20

-14.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.77 $2.77

-12.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$1.53 $1.53

71.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.92 $14.92

$8.74 $8.74

70.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.80 $14.80

$14.70 $14.70

0.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.87 $2.87

-14.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$1.97 $1.97

89.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.03 $2.03

22.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.4 $75.4

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$2.54 $2.54

25.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.27 $1.27

11.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.94 $24.94

$27.61 $27.61

-9.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$0.86 $0.86

23.26%

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

$31.9K $31.9K

$29.7K $29.7K

7.43%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$25.5K $25.5K

2.15%

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

$185 $185

$195 $195

-5.36%

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

$61.7 $61.7

$58.3 $58.3

5.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.9 $66.9

$75.8 $75.8

-11.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$30.40 $30.40

147.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.08 $13.08

Cinema Ticket

$14.71 $14.71

$13.12 $13.12

12.12%

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

$2,020 $2,020

$2,813 $2,813

-28.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.4K $39.4K

$27.3K $27.3K

44.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.6 $64.6

$67.4 $67.4

-4.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.5 $52.5

$44.21 $44.21

18.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.8 $97.8

$83.7 $83.7

16.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

-0.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,313 $2,313

$1,054 $1,054

119.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,590 $1,590

$939 $939

69.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,608 $4,608

$1,613 $1,613

185.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,779 $2,779

$1,450 $1,450

91.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,922 $3,922

$2,401 $2,401

63.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,613 $2,613

$2,362 $2,362

10.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,217 $5,217

$1,980 $1,980

163.49%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.43

2.64%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: May 30, 2026

Last update for Augusta, ME: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,313 in Chicago, IL and $1,054 in Augusta, ME. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 163% 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: $98.0 in Chicago, IL vs $75.0 in Augusta, ME for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $447 vs $400 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 38% in total monthly costs ($3,077 vs $2,234 including rent). Augusta, ME is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Chicago, IL pays 163% more on average, 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: $2,313 in Chicago, IL versus $1,054 in Augusta, ME. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,020 in Chicago, IL versus $2,813 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 $75.0 versus $98.0 in Chicago, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,234 in Augusta, ME versus $3,077 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 38% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.