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

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Portland, OR is 3.5% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 2.1% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Portland, OR is 5.8% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 7.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Portland, OR
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.74 $19.74
$20.82 $20.82
-5.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$89.7 $89.7
$100 $100
-10.57%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.81 $11.81
$11.97 $11.97
-1.34%
Cappuccino
$4.94 $4.94
$5.56 $5.56
-11.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 $2.49
$3.11 $3.11
-19.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 $1.96
$2.42 $2.42
-19.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.95 $6.95
$6.86 $6.86
1.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.93 $5.93
$8.45 $8.45
-29.82%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Portland, OR
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.02 $1.02
$1.04 $1.04
-1.92%
White Bread (500g)
$4.36 $4.36
$4.15 $4.15
5.06%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.42 $4.42
$5.52 $5.52
-19.93%
Eggs
$4.66 $4.66
$4.65 $4.65
0.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.28 $15.28
$14.33 $14.33
6.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.53 $11.53
$14.88 $14.88
-22.51%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.07 $15.07
$19.34 $19.34
-22.08%
Apples (1kg)
$5.23 $5.23
$5.17 $5.17
1.16%
Banana (1kg)
$2.01 $2.01
$1.71 $1.71
17.54%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.67 $4.67
$4.41 $4.41
5.90%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.97 $4.97
$4.51 $4.51
10.20%
Potato (1kg)
$2.92 $2.92
$2.53 $2.53
15.42%
Onion (1kg)
$2.09 $2.09
$2.74 $2.74
-23.72%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.29 $2.29
$2.43 $2.43
-5.76%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.22 $2.22
$2.7 $2.7
-17.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.95 $10.95
$15.19 $15.19
-27.91%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.11 $15.11
$16.42 $16.42
-7.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.24 $2.24
$2.35 $2.35
-4.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.71 $4.71
$3.7 $3.7
27.30%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Portland, OR
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.76 $2.76
$2.53 $2.53
9.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$101 $101
$74.1 $74.1
36.76%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.74 $3.74
$3.34 $3.34
11.98%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 $1.96
$1.42 $1.42
38.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.34 $35.34
$25.42 $25.42
39.02%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 $1.02
$1.08 $1.08
-5.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.2K $33.2K
$32.4K $32.4K
2.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26K $26K
$26.2K $26.2K
-0.76%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Portland, OR
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$222 $222
$188 $188
17.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$69.5 $69.5
$63.7 $63.7
9.03%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.9 $61.9
$65.2 $65.2
-5.06%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Portland, OR
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.12 $40.12
$76.7 $76.7
-47.71%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$53.4 $53.4
$13.03 $13.03
309.67%
Cinema Ticket
$12.93 $12.93
$14.93 $14.93
-13.40%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Portland, OR
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,785 $1,785
$2,063 $2,063
-13.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$19.2K $19.2K
$39.2K $39.2K
-51.10%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Portland, OR
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.7 $61.7
$64.3 $64.3
-4.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.04 $47.04
$52.4 $52.4
-10.21%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 $103
$95.2 $95.2
8.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 $113
$145 $145
-21.81%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Portland, OR
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,810 $1,810
$2,378 $2,378
-23.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,515 $1,515
$1,584 $1,584
-4.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,446 $3,446
$4,763 $4,763
-27.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,591 $2,591
$2,815 $2,815
-7.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,743 $3,743
$3,588 $3,588
4.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,295 $3,295
$2,490 $2,490
32.32%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Portland, OR
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,005 $5,005
$5,275 $5,275
-5.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.41
6.6
-2.88%

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

Last update for Portland, OR: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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