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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 3.7% more expensive than Portland, OR without rent, and 2.1% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 6.2% more expensive than Portland, OR without rent, and 7.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Portland, OR
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$19.74 $19.74
5.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$89.7 $89.7
11.82%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$11.81 $11.81
1.35%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.94 $4.94
12.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.49 $2.49
24.90%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.96 $1.96
23.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$6.95 $6.95
-1.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$5.93 $5.93
42.50%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Portland, OR
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.02 $1.02
1.96%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$4.36 $4.36
-4.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$4.42 $4.42
24.89%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.66 $4.66
-0.21%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$15.28 $15.28
-6.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$11.53 $11.53
29.05%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$15.07 $15.07
28.33%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$5.23 $5.23
-1.15%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$2.01 $2.01
-14.93%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$4.67 $4.67
-5.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.97 $4.97
-9.26%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.92 $2.92
-13.36%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.09 $2.09
31.10%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.29 $2.29
6.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.22 $2.22
21.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$10.95 $10.95
38.72%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$15.11 $15.11
8.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.24 $2.24
4.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$4.71 $4.71
-21.44%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Portland, OR
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.76 $2.76
-8.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$101 $101
-26.88%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.74 $3.74
-10.70%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.96 $1.96
-27.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$35.34 $35.34
-28.07%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.02 $1.02
5.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$33.2K $33.2K
-2.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$26K $26K
0.76%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Portland, OR
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$222 $222
-15.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$69.5 $69.5
-8.28%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$61.9 $61.9
5.33%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Portland, OR
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$40.12 $40.12
91.23%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
$53.4 $53.4
-75.59%
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$12.93 $12.93
15.47%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Portland, OR
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,785 $1,785
15.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$19.2K $19.2K
104.52%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Portland, OR
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$61.7 $61.7
4.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$47.04 $47.04
11.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$103 $103
-7.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$113 $113
27.89%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Portland, OR
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,810 $1,810
31.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,515 $1,515
4.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$3,446 $3,446
38.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,591 $2,591
8.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$3,743 $3,743
-4.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$3,295 $3,295
-24.43%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Portland, OR
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$5,005 $5,005
5.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.41
2.96%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Portland, OR: October 27, 2025

Join the CityCost newsletter โ€“ low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.