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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,051 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,535 in Belfast, ME, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,638 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,732 in Belfast, ME, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,224 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,930 in Belfast, ME, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 20% more than Belfast, ME, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chicago, IL and Belfast, ME sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 128%, Belfast, ME by 89%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.67 $20.67

$19.29 $19.29

7.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$74.8 $74.8

34.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$10.94 $10.94

8.41%

Cappuccino

$5.54 $5.54

$5.11 $5.11

8.41%

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

$3.06 $3.06

$2.52 $2.52

21.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.02 $2.02

22.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.92 $6.92

$5.96 $5.96

16.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.13 $8.13

$6.85 $6.85

18.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

White Bread (500g)

$3.91 $3.91

$3.46 $3.46

13.01%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$4.30 $4.30

26.05%

Eggs

$4.48 $4.48

$4.15 $4.15

7.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.52 $14.52

$12.24 $12.24

18.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.21 $15.21

$11.66 $11.66

30.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.25 $19.25

$15.65 $15.65

23.00%

Apples (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$4.96 $4.96

8.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.56 $1.56

8.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$4.14 $4.14

4.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.58 $4.58

-1.53%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.83 $2.83

-9.54%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.88 $2.88

-6.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.41 $2.41

$2.10 $2.10

14.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.18 $2.18

20.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.02 $15.02

$9.86 $9.86

52.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.71 $14.71

$15.21 $15.21

-3.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.86 $1.86

33.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 $3.69

$3.33 $3.33

10.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.04 $2.04

25.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.5 $75.5

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.29 $3.29

$3.51 $3.51

-6.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.60 $1.60

-10.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.72 $24.72

$28.83 $28.83

-14.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.89 $0.89

22.47%

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

$31.8K $31.8K

$29.5K $29.5K

7.74%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$25.9K $25.9K

2.23%

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

$183 $183

$188 $188

-2.55%

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

$61.8 $61.8

$52.6 $52.6

17.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.0 $65.0

$67.3 $67.3

-3.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.1 $76.1

$42.60 $42.60

78.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.04 $13.04

Cinema Ticket

$14.75 $14.75

$13.49 $13.49

9.34%

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

$2,056 $2,056

$1,298 $1,298

58.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.5K $38.5K

$23.6K $23.6K

63.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 $63.9

$51.7 $51.7

23.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.6 $51.6

$39.57 $39.57

30.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.3 $97.3

$87.5 $87.5

11.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$147 $147

$111 $111

33.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,349 $2,349

$1,574 $1,574

49.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,581 $1,581

$1,374 $1,374

15.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,708 $4,708

$2,611 $2,611

80.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,716 $2,716

$2,227 $2,227

21.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,976 $3,976

$2,722 $2,722

46.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,632 $2,632

$2,342 $2,342

12.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,723 $4,723

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: April 20, 2026

Last update for Belfast, ME: April 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,349 in Chicago, IL versus $1,574 in Belfast, ME. 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 $100 in Chicago, IL versus $75 in Belfast, ME. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $390 – making Belfast, ME the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Belfast, ME: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Chicago, IL is pricier by about 20%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,577 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,802 in Belfast, ME. 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. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,051 in Chicago, IL and $2,535 in Belfast, ME. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $2,056 per month in Chicago, IL and $1,298 in Belfast, ME. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Belfast, ME, where all-in costs run around $2,535, than in Chicago, IL at $3,051. In Belfast, ME it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Belfast, ME. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.