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

🙂 Solo nomad: Portland, ME is 0.9% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 0.2% cheaper with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Portland, ME is 4.1% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 0.1% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.34 $30.34

$20.82 $20.82

45.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$122 $122

$100 $100

21.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.85 $11.85

$11.97 $11.97

-1.00%

Cappuccino

$6.32 $6.32

$5.56 $5.56

13.67%

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

$2.78 $2.78

$3.11 $3.11

-10.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 $2.39

$2.42 $2.42

-1.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.33 $6.33

$6.86 $6.86

-7.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.79 $7.79

$8.45 $8.45

-7.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 $0.99

$1.04 $1.04

-4.81%

White Bread (500g)

$3.68 $3.68

$4.15 $4.15

-11.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$7.57 $7.57

$5.52 $5.52

37.14%

Eggs

$4.31 $4.31

$4.65 $4.65

-7.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.75 $16.75

$14.33 $14.33

16.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.85 $10.85

$14.88 $14.88

-27.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.43 $14.43

$19.34 $19.34

-25.39%

Apples (1kg)

$3.44 $3.44

$5.17 $5.17

-33.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.71 $1.71

0.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.87 $5.87

$4.41 $4.41

33.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.05 $6.05

$4.51 $4.51

34.15%

Potato (1kg)

$7.45 $7.45

$2.53 $2.53

194.47%

Onion (1kg)

$3.62 $3.62

$2.74 $2.74

32.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.36 $2.36

$2.43 $2.43

-2.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.12 $2.12

$2.7 $2.7

-21.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.32 $12.32

$15.19 $15.19

-18.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.04 $15.04

$16.42 $16.42

-8.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.93 $1.93

$2.35 $2.35

-17.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 $2.96

$3.7 $3.7

-20.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.05 $2.05

$2.53 $2.53

-18.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$60.7 $60.7

$74.1 $74.1

-18.09%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.94 $1.94

$3.34 $3.34

-41.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.42 $1.42

20.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.74 $28.74

$25.42 $25.42

13.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$1.08 $1.08

-20.37%

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

$29.2K $29.2K

$32.4K $32.4K

-10.06%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$26.2K $26.2K

-3.26%

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

$208 $208

$188 $188

10.77%

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

$55 $55

$63.7 $63.7

-13.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$81 $81

$65.2 $65.2

24.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.6 $65.6

$76.7 $76.7

-14.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.47 $12.47

$13.03 $13.03

-4.30%

Cinema Ticket

$14.3 $14.3

$14.93 $14.93

-4.22%

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

$1,254 $1,254

$2,063 $2,063

-39.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$33.5K $33.5K

$39.2K $39.2K

-14.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.3 $51.3

$64.3 $64.3

-20.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$74.6 $74.6

$52.4 $52.4

42.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 $120

$95.2 $95.2

26.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$132 $132

$145 $145

-8.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,975 $1,975

$2,378 $2,378

-16.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,463 $1,463

$1,584 $1,584

-7.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,413 $3,413

$4,763 $4,763

-28.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,489 $2,489

$2,815 $2,815

-11.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,473 $4,473

$3,588 $3,588

24.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,006 $4,006

$2,490 $2,490

60.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,475 $4,475

$5,275 $5,275

-15.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.71

6.6

1.67%

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

Last update for Portland, ME: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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