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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,078 per month in Portland, ME vs $3,077 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,565 per month in Portland, ME vs $4,628 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,052 per month in Portland, ME vs $6,179 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Portland, ME and Chicago, IL have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

Both Portland, ME and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Portland, ME by 130%, Chicago, IL by 130%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.47 $30.47

$20.91 $20.91

45.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$98.1 $98.1

20.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.85 $11.85

$11.86 $11.86

-0.08%

Cappuccino

$6.38 $6.38

$5.60 $5.60

13.93%

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

$2.70 $2.70

$3.07 $3.07

-12.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.30 $2.30

$2.47 $2.47

-6.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.18 $6.18

$7.14 $7.14

-13.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.11 $8.11

$8.08 $8.08

0.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.05 $1.05

-6.67%

White Bread (500g)

$3.71 $3.71

$4.11 $4.11

-9.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$7.88 $7.88

$5.61 $5.61

40.46%

Eggs

$4.21 $4.21

$4.51 $4.51

-6.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.65 $16.65

$14.27 $14.27

16.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.76 $10.76

$14.89 $14.89

-27.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.66 $14.66

$19.19 $19.19

-23.61%

Apples (1kg)

$3.48 $3.48

$5.14 $5.14

-32.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 $1.66

$1.77 $1.77

-6.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.03 $6.03

$4.39 $4.39

37.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.05 $6.05

$4.56 $4.56

32.68%

Potato (1kg)

$7.22 $7.22

$2.54 $2.54

184.25%

Onion (1kg)

$3.60 $3.60

$2.75 $2.75

30.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.42 $2.42

2.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

$2.62 $2.62

-17.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.32 $12.32

$14.92 $14.92

-17.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.95 $14.95

$14.80 $14.80

1.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.87 $1.87

$2.46 $2.46

-23.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$3.73 $3.73

-20.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.48 $2.48

-20.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$59.7 $59.7

$75.4 $75.4

-20.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.03 $2.03

$3.18 $3.18

-36.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.79 $1.79

$1.42 $1.42

26.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.51 $29.51

$24.94 $24.94

18.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 $0.91

$1.06 $1.06

-14.15%

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

$29.6K $29.6K

$31.9K $31.9K

-7.32%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$26.0K $26.0K

-2.46%

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

$211 $211

$185 $185

13.87%

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

$55.7 $55.7

$61.7 $61.7

-9.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$82.0 $82.0

$66.9 $66.9

22.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.8 $65.8

$75.2 $75.2

-12.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.49 $12.49

$13.08 $13.08

-4.51%

Cinema Ticket

$14.41 $14.41

$14.71 $14.71

-2.04%

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

$1,286 $1,286

$2,020 $2,020

-36.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$33.5K $33.5K

$39.4K $39.4K

-14.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.2 $50.2

$64.6 $64.6

-22.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$74.1 $74.1

$52.5 $52.5

41.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$122 $122

$97.8 $97.8

24.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$133 $133

$148 $148

-9.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,040 $2,040

$2,313 $2,313

-11.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,453 $1,453

$1,590 $1,590

-8.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,336 $3,336

$4,608 $4,608

-27.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,564 $2,564

$2,779 $2,779

-7.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,187 $4,187

$3,922 $3,922

6.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,967 $3,967

$2,613 $2,613

51.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,484 $4,484

$5,217 $5,217

-14.05%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,040 in Portland, ME versus $2,313 in Chicago, IL. 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 16% higher in Chicago, IL. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $119 in Portland, ME versus $98.0 in Chicago, IL. Groceries tell a different story – $434 in Portland, ME vs $447 in Chicago, IL – so 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

Portland, ME vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,618 per month in Portland, ME and $4,616 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chicago, IL, 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 $119 in Portland, ME and $98.0 in Chicago, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Public transport costs about 26% less in Chicago, IL. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,078 in Portland, ME and $3,077 in Chicago, IL. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Portland, ME has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $3,077 in Chicago, IL to $3,078 in Portland, ME. 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 Chicago, IL. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Portland, ME makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.