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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,184 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,053 in South Portland, ME, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,725 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,502 in South Portland, ME, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,266 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,951 in South Portland, ME, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 4% more than South Portland, ME, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chicago, IL and South Portland, ME sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 131%, South Portland, ME by 121%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.26 $20.26

$24.83 $24.83

-18.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.8 $88.8

$120 $120

-25.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.16 $13.16

$14.77 $14.77

-10.90%

Cappuccino

$5.77 $5.77

$5.30 $5.30

8.87%

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

$2.63 $2.63

$3.05 $3.05

-13.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$2.41 $2.41

-2.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.06 $7.06

$8.09 $8.09

-12.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.18 $9.18

$8.24 $8.24

11.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 $1.30

$0.99 $0.99

31.31%

White Bread (500g)

$4.05 $4.05

$4.31 $4.31

-6.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.69 $5.69

$6.50 $6.50

-12.46%

Eggs

$4.85 $4.85

$4.06 $4.06

19.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.08 $15.08

$15.13 $15.13

-0.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.87 $14.87

$10.13 $10.13

46.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.28 $19.28

$16.41 $16.41

17.49%

Apples (1kg)

$5.68 $5.68

$4.99 $4.99

13.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.93 $1.93

$1.66 $1.66

16.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$5.62 $5.62

-27.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.11 $5.11

$7.06 $7.06

-27.62%

Potato (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$3.74 $3.74

-21.93%

Onion (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$3.81 $3.81

-27.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.30 $2.30

$2.78 $2.78

-17.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.04 $3.04

$2.49 $2.49

22.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.93 $15.93

$11.16 $11.16

42.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.06 $15.06

$14.80 $14.80

1.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.89 $1.89

33.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 $3.48

$2.76 $2.76

26.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.01 $2.01

25.87%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.8 $74.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.28 $3.28

$2.05 $2.05

60.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.54 $1.54

-11.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.55 $22.55

$11.17 $11.17

101.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.09 $1.09

11.93%

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

$36.1K $36.1K

$36.5K $36.5K

-0.94%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$25.9K $25.9K

0.44%

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

$188 $188

$255 $255

-26.13%

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

$69.0 $69.0

$68.9 $68.9

0.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.6 $63.6

$78.1 $78.1

-18.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.4 $63.4

$60.3 $60.3

5.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.11 $27.11

$30.17 $30.17

-10.14%

Cinema Ticket

$17.90 $17.90

$14.79 $14.79

21.03%

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

$1,526 $1,526

$406 $406

275.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

$15.2K $15.2K

109.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.1 $62.1

$52.6 $52.6

18.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.4 $56.4

$48.33 $48.33

16.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$103 $103

-1.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$156 $156

$133 $133

17.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,342 $2,342

$1,972 $1,972

18.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,698 $1,698

$1,546 $1,546

9.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,576 $4,576

$3,186 $3,186

43.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,806 $2,806

$2,630 $2,630

6.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,130 $4,130

$2,729 $2,729

51.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,740 $2,740

$2,366 $2,366

15.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,891 $4,891

$4,321 $4,321

13.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.28

1.59%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: September 6, 2026

Last update for South Portland, ME: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,342 in Chicago, IL versus $1,972 in South Portland, ME. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 13% higher in Chicago, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89.0 in Chicago, IL versus $120 in South Portland, ME. Groceries tell a different story – $465 in Chicago, IL vs $438 in South Portland, ME – so South Portland, ME wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 South Portland, ME: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,184 in Chicago, IL, $3,053 in South Portland, ME – roughly 4% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,776 per month in Chicago, IL and $4,579 in South Portland, ME. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in South Portland, ME, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89.0 in Chicago, IL and $120 in South Portland, ME. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 6% more in Chicago, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,184 in Chicago, IL and $3,053 in South Portland, ME. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $3,053 in South Portland, ME to $3,184 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 South Portland, 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.