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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 34.9% more expensive than Ellsworth, ME without rent, and 20.1% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 20.5% more expensive than Ellsworth, ME without rent, and 21.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Ellsworth, ME
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$18.34 $18.34
13.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$111 $111
-9.26%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$12.14 $12.14
-1.40%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.92 $4.92
13.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$1.99 $1.99
56.28%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.41 $2.41
0.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$4.11 $4.11
66.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$6.09 $6.09
38.75%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Ellsworth, ME
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.97 $0.97
7.22%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.72 $3.72
11.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$5.47 $5.47
0.91%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.29 $4.29
8.39%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$16.18 $16.18
-11.43%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$7.92 $7.92
87.88%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$11.03 $11.03
75.34%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$3.32 $3.32
55.72%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.66 $1.66
3.01%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$6.72 $6.72
-34.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.37 $4.37
3.20%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.16 $2.16
17.13%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$1.62 $1.62
69.14%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$3.04 $3.04
-20.07%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.45 $2.45
10.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$12.43 $12.43
22.20%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$14.89 $14.89
10.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.86 $1.86
26.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.01 $3.01
22.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Ellsworth, ME
Difference
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
$1.97 $1.97
69.54%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.58 $1.58
-10.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$28.82 $28.82
-11.80%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.84 $0.84
28.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$28.9K $28.9K
12.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$36.3K $36.3K
-27.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Ellsworth, ME
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$165 $165
13.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$54.4 $54.4
17.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$49.02 $49.02
33.01%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Ellsworth, ME
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$42.32 $42.32
81.29%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$14.44 $14.44
3.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Ellsworth, ME
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,287 $1,287
60.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$23.1K $23.1K
69.39%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Ellsworth, ME
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$50.3 $50.3
27.83%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$74.9 $74.9
-30.01%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$100 $100
-5.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$98.3 $98.3
47.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Ellsworth, ME
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,599 $1,599
48.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,337 $1,337
18.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,657 $2,657
79.25%
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
$2,951 $2,951
21.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,273 $2,273
9.58%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Ellsworth, ME
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
3
120.00%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Ellsworth, ME: October 27, 2025

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