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

🙂 Solo nomad: South Portland, ME is 8.6% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 6.5% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: South Portland, ME is 10.8% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 12.5% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.65 $19.65

$20.82 $20.82

-5.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$68.7 $68.7

$100 $100

-31.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.95 $11.95

$11.97 $11.97

-0.17%

Cappuccino

$4.97 $4.97

$5.56 $5.56

-10.61%

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

$2.83 $2.83

$3.11 $3.11

-9.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 $2.37

$2.42 $2.42

-2.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.06 $6.06

$6.86 $6.86

-11.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.95 $6.95

$8.45 $8.45

-17.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.92 $0.92

$1.04 $1.04

-11.54%

White Bread (500g)

$3.49 $3.49

$4.15 $4.15

-15.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.69 $5.69

$5.52 $5.52

3.08%

Eggs

$4.11 $4.11

$4.65 $4.65

-11.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.68 $16.68

$14.33 $14.33

16.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.5 $10.5

$14.88 $14.88

-29.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.76 $16.76

$19.34 $19.34

-13.34%

Apples (1kg)

$3.39 $3.39

$5.17 $5.17

-34.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 $1.45

$1.71 $1.71

-15.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$4 $4

$4.41 $4.41

-9.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.6 $7.6

$4.51 $4.51

68.51%

Potato (1kg)

$3.14 $3.14

$2.53 $2.53

24.11%

Onion (1kg)

$3.01 $3.01

$2.74 $2.74

9.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.89 $1.89

$2.43 $2.43

-22.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.59 $1.59

$2.7 $2.7

-41.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.57 $12.57

$15.19 $15.19

-17.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$12 $12

$16.42 $16.42

-26.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 $1.74

$2.35 $2.35

-25.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 $3.08

$3.7 $3.7

-16.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.53 $2.53

-22.13%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.94 $1.94

$3.34 $3.34

-41.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.79 $1.79

$1.42 $1.42

26.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29 $29

$25.42 $25.42

14.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.9 $0.9

$1.08 $1.08

-16.67%

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

$27.4K $27.4K

$32.4K $32.4K

-15.51%

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

$25.3K $25.3K

$26.2K $26.2K

-3.69%

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

$208 $208

$188 $188

10.60%

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

$54.2 $54.2

$63.7 $63.7

-14.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.3 $65.3

$65.2 $65.2

0.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.6 $42.6

$76.7 $76.7

-44.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.4 $29.4

$13.03 $13.03

125.63%

Cinema Ticket

$15.12 $15.12

$14.93 $14.93

1.27%

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

$396 $396

$2,063 $2,063

-80.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K $14.8K

$39.2K $39.2K

-62.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.29 $47.29

$64.3 $64.3

-26.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.14 $34.14

$52.4 $52.4

-34.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.2 $86.2

$95.2 $95.2

-9.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$133 $133

$145 $145

-8.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,982 $1,982

$2,378 $2,378

-16.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,528 $1,528

$1,584 $1,584

-3.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,354 $3,354

$4,763 $4,763

-29.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,610 $2,610

$2,815 $2,815

-7.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,734 $2,734

$3,588 $3,588

-23.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,412 $2,412

$2,490 $2,490

-3.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,930 $3,930

$5,275 $5,275

-25.51%

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 South Portland, ME: October 26, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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