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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 12% more expensive than Belfast, ME without rent, and 17.2% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 20.6% more expensive than Belfast, ME without rent, and 27.4% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$18.75 $18.75

11.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$74.2 $74.2

35.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$10.92 $10.92

9.62%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.05 $5.05

10.10%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.5 $2.5

24.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.95 $1.95

24.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$5.96 $5.96

15.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$7.03 $7.03

20.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.05 $1.05

-0.95%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.5 $3.5

18.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.48 $4.48

23.21%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.15 $4.15

12.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$12.04 $12.04

19.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$11.43 $11.43

30.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$15.24 $15.24

26.90%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$4.82 $4.82

7.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.58 $1.58

8.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.15 $4.15

6.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.78 $4.78

-5.65%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.91 $2.91

-13.06%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.92 $2.92

-6.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.04 $2.04

19.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.19 $2.19

23.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$9.43 $9.43

61.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$13.92 $13.92

17.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.8 $1.8

30.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$3.46 $3.46

6.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.05 $2.05

23.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.46 $3.46

-3.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.65 $1.65

-13.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$29.34 $29.34

-13.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.89 $0.89

21.35%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$29.6K $29.6K

9.49%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.8K $25.8K

1.57%

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

$188 $188

$186 $186

1.17%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$52.6 $52.6

21.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$69 $69

-5.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$42.62 $42.62

80.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$13.36 $13.36

11.75%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,283 $1,283

60.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$23.7K $23.7K

65.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$50.7 $50.7

26.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$40.17 $40.17

30.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$87.1 $87.1

9.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$114 $114

27.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,627 $1,627

46.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,369 $1,369

15.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,651 $2,651

79.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,200 $2,200

27.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,792 $2,792

28.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,430 $2,430

2.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.51

1.38%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Belfast, ME: October 28, 2025

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