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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 23.6% more expensive than Eliot, ME without rent, and 15.6% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 29.6% more expensive than Eliot, ME without rent, and 30.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Eliot, ME
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$18.05 $18.05
15.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$49.44 $49.44
102.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$9.11 $9.11
31.39%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$3.99 $3.99
39.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$1.88 $1.88
65.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.47 $1.47
64.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$6.13 $6.13
11.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$7.04 $7.04
20.03%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Eliot, ME
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.92 $0.92
13.04%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.37 $3.37
23.15%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$5.8 $5.8
-4.83%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$3.63 $3.63
28.10%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$19.01 $19.01
-24.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$13.75 $13.75
8.22%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$19.3 $19.3
0.21%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$3.76 $3.76
37.50%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.4 $1.4
22.14%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$3.97 $3.97
11.08%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.05 $4.05
11.36%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.27 $3.27
-22.63%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.55 $2.55
7.45%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.93 $1.93
25.91%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$1.65 $1.65
63.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$13.01 $13.01
16.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$15.09 $15.09
8.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.72 $1.72
36.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.25 $3.25
13.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Eliot, ME
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.03 $2.03
24.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.05 $3.05
9.51%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.76 $1.76
-19.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$29.36 $29.36
-13.42%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.91 $0.91
18.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$34.7K $34.7K
-6.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$24.7K $24.7K
6.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Eliot, ME
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$193 $193
-2.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$44.67 $44.67
42.60%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$65.9 $65.9
-1.02%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Eliot, ME
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$43.83 $43.83
75.04%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$14.73 $14.73
1.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Eliot, ME
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,720 $1,720
19.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$30.1K $30.1K
30.22%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Eliot, ME
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$47.02 $47.02
36.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$33.92 $33.92
54.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$86 $86
10.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$160 $160
-9.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Eliot, ME
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,595 $1,595
49.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,371 $1,371
15.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,658 $2,658
79.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,179 $2,179
29.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,486 $2,486
44.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,425 $2,425
2.67%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Eliot, ME
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.6
-

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Eliot, ME: October 28, 2025

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