Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living costs are similar in South Portland, ME and in Chicago, IL: $3,045 and $3,037 a month, rent and utilities included.

148

Cost of Living Index in South Portland, ME
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South Portland, ME Living Index
147

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index

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South Portland, ME

🇺🇸 United States

$3,045

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in South Portland, ME and in Chicago, IL

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in South Portland, ME and in Chicago, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,045 per month in South Portland, ME vs $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

South Portland, ME $3,045
Chicago, IL $3,037

A couple spends around $4,568 per month in South Portland, ME vs $4,518 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

South Portland, ME $4,568
Chicago, IL $4,518

A family of three spends $6,091 per month in South Portland, ME vs $5,999 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

South Portland, ME $6,091
Chicago, IL $5,999

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

Both South Portland, ME and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – South Portland, ME by 124%, Chicago, IL by 123%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.94 $24.94

$20.71 $20.71

20.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$89.2 $89.2

32.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.71 $14.71

$13.19 $13.19

11.52%

Cappuccino

$5.35 $5.35

$5.66 $5.66

-5.48%

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

$3.09 $3.09

$2.64 $2.64

17.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 $2.37

$2.28 $2.28

3.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.81 $7.81

$6.87 $6.87

13.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.95 $7.95

$8.84 $8.84

-10.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 $1.07

$1.25 $1.25

-14.40%

White Bread (500g)

$4.38 $4.38

$3.72 $3.72

17.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.96 $6.96

$5.39 $5.39

29.13%

Eggs

$4.03 $4.03

$4.74 $4.74

-14.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.36 $15.36

$13.84 $13.84

10.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.35 $10.35

$14.40 $14.40

-28.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.97 $15.97

$18.38 $18.38

-13.11%

Apples (1kg)

$4.77 $4.77

$5.22 $5.22

-8.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.98 $1.98

-16.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.06 $4.06

35.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.61 $7.61

$4.97 $4.97

53.12%

Potato (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$2.67 $2.67

64.04%

Onion (1kg)

$3.78 $3.78

$2.66 $2.66

42.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.93 $2.93

$2.24 $2.24

30.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.59 $2.59

$3.13 $3.13

-17.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.31 $12.31

$13.82 $13.82

-10.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.08 $15.08

$14.88 $14.88

1.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.90 $1.90

$2.54 $2.54

-25.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.60 $2.60

$3.51 $3.51

-25.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.91 $1.91

$2.43 $2.43

-21.40%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$51.3 $51.3

$73.5 $73.5

-30.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.05 $2.05

$3.18 $3.18

-35.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.39 $1.39

13.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.94 $10.94

$25.03 $25.03

-56.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.20 $1.20

-9.17%

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

$27.5K $27.5K

$35.0K $35.0K

-21.54%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

0.19%

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

$239 $239

$194 $194

22.84%

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

$68.3 $68.3

$69.5 $69.5

-1.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$78.6 $78.6

$61.6 $61.6

27.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.18 $40.18

$47.90 $47.90

-16.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.61 $29.61

$27.34 $27.34

8.30%

Cinema Ticket

$14.95 $14.95

$17.81 $17.81

-16.06%

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

$401 $401

$1,794 $1,794

-77.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K $15.1K

$31.9K $31.9K

-52.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.9 $51.9

$67.0 $67.0

-22.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 $51.2

$52.1 $52.1

-1.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$102 $102

1.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$131 $131

$144 $144

-8.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,972 $1,972

$2,526 $2,526

-21.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,537 $1,537

$1,578 $1,578

-2.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,166 $3,166

$4,738 $4,738

-33.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,605 $2,605

$2,693 $2,693

-3.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,784 $2,784

$4,190 $4,190

-33.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,332 $2,332

$2,768 $2,768

-15.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,169 $4,169

$4,931 $4,931

-15.44%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.65

6.81

-2.35%

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

Last update for South Portland, ME: October 26, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

South Portland, ME

$1.5K 50.5%

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52% 2.7% $41

Groceries & Markets

South Portland, ME

$446 14.7%

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7% 0.2% $1

Monthly Utilities & Internet

South Portland, ME

$386 12.7%

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7% 15.6% $60

Eating Out

South Portland, ME

$385 12.6%

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4% 10.3% $40

Clothing & Footwear

South Portland, ME

$152 5%

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4% 8% $12

Sport & Entertainment

South Portland, ME

$70 2.3%

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8% 19.2% $13

Getting Around

South Portland, ME

$69 2.3%

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1% 35.6% $25

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,972 in South Portland, ME versus $2,526 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 18% higher in Chicago, IL. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $118 in South Portland, ME versus $89 in Chicago, IL. Groceries tell a different story – $446 in South Portland, ME vs $447 in Chicago, IL – so South Portland, ME wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇺🇸 South Portland, ME

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

09:07 9:07 AM

08:07 8:07 AM

1 h behind South Portland, ME

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

26,498

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.899 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Between locations

South Portland, ME Chicago, IL 1,430 km ≈ 2 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

South Portland, ME
Chicago, IL

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

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

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,567 per month in South Portland, ME and $4,555 in Chicago, IL. 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,972 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

Kindergarten costs $401 per month in South Portland, ME and $1,794 in Chicago, IL. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Public transport costs about 30% less in South Portland, ME. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,045 in South Portland, ME and $3,037 in Chicago, IL. 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 $3,037 in Chicago, IL to $3,045 in South Portland, ME. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.