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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 0.9% more expensive than Portland, ME without rent, and 0.2% more expensive with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 4% cheaper than Portland, ME without rent, and 0.1% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$30.34 $30.34

-31.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$122 $122

-17.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$11.85 $11.85

1.01%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$6.32 $6.32

-12.03%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.78 $2.78

11.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.39 $2.39

1.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$6.33 $6.33

8.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$7.79 $7.79

8.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.99 $0.99

5.05%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.68 $3.68

12.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$7.57 $7.57

-27.08%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.31 $4.31

7.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$16.75 $16.75

-14.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$10.85 $10.85

37.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$14.43 $14.43

34.03%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$3.44 $3.44

50.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.72 $1.72

-0.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$5.87 $5.87

-24.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$6.05 $6.05

-25.45%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$7.45 $7.45

-66.04%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.62 $3.62

-24.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.36 $2.36

2.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.12 $2.12

27.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$12.32 $12.32

23.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$15.04 $15.04

9.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.93 $1.93

21.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$2.96 $2.96

25.00%

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

$60.7 $60.7

22.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$1.94 $1.94

72.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.71 $1.71

-16.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$28.74 $28.74

-11.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.86 $0.86

25.58%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$29.2K $29.2K

11.19%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.4K $25.4K

3.37%

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

$188 $188

$208 $208

-9.72%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$55 $55

15.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$81 $81

-19.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$65.6 $65.6

16.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

$12.47 $12.47

4.49%

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$14.3 $14.3

4.41%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,254 $1,254

64.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$33.5K $33.5K

16.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$51.3 $51.3

25.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$74.6 $74.6

-29.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$120 $120

-20.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$132 $132

9.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,975 $1,975

20.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,463 $1,463

8.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$3,413 $3,413

39.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,489 $2,489

13.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$4,473 $4,473

-19.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$4,006 $4,006

-37.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$4,475 $4,475

17.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.71

-1.64%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Portland, ME: October 28, 2025

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