Living Cost Compare
Chicago

Illinois

$1,470/mo est.

vs
Lewiston

Maine

$1,070/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,470 in Chicago, IL versus $1,070 in Lewiston, ME. Overall, Lewiston, ME is roughly 27% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Chicago, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $75,134 in Chicago, IL and $56,558 in Lewiston, ME — about 25% higher in Chicago, IL. Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax; Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Chicago, IL
Lewiston, ME

Rent

Studio
$1,186
$559
+53% in Chicago, IL
1 Bedroom
$1,258
$749
+40% in Chicago, IL
2 Bedroom
$1,406
$1,047
+26% in Chicago, IL
3 Bedroom
$1,554
$1,209
+22% in Chicago, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$315,200
$214,200
+32% in Chicago, IL

Income

Median Household Income
$75,134
$56,558
+25% in Chicago, IL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,720
$49,540
+9% in Chicago, IL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.7 yr
37.8 yr
+2.1 yr in Lewiston, ME
Homeownership
45.5%
50.3%
+4.8 pp in Lewiston, ME
Bachelor's+ (25+)
43.3%
21.7%
+21.6 pp in Chicago, IL
Avg Commute
33.5 min
20.7 min
+12.8 min in Chicago, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
539.8
244.5
+55% in Chicago, IL
Property Crime
3,489.9
1,616.5
+54% in Chicago, IL

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
52.7°F
45.8°F
+6.9°F in Chicago, IL
Annual Precipitation
38.0 in
51.1 in
+13.1 in in Lewiston, ME

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.24/gal
$3.94/gal
+7% in Chicago, IL

Area: Chicago vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.50
—

Adult base one-way fare — CTA vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.9
29.6
+49% in Lewiston, ME
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$19.71
$31.62
+60% in Lewiston, ME

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.92
+16% in Lewiston, ME
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Chicago, IL
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.90
+2% in Lewiston, ME
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.19
+4% in Lewiston, ME
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in Lewiston, ME

Average prices — Midwest vs Northeast (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IL / ME)
6.25%
5.5%
+0.8 pp in IL
Income Tax (top rate)
4.95%
7.15%
+2.2 pp in ME

Chicago vs Lewiston — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Chicago or Lewiston?
Lewiston, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 27% below Chicago, IL's $1,470, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Chicago than in Lewiston?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $50,000 a year in Chicago versus $30,000 in Lewiston.
Which has lower taxes, Chicago or Lewiston?
Chicago is taxed under Illinois's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Lewiston under Maine's (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).