Living Cost Compare
Chicago

Illinois

$1,490/mo est.

vs
Portland

Maine

$1,620/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,490 in Chicago, IL versus $1,620 in Portland, ME. Overall, Chicago, IL is roughly 8% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Portland, ME, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $75,134 in Chicago, IL and $76,174 in Portland, ME — about 1% higher in Portland, ME. 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
Portland, ME

Rent

Studio
$1,186
$1,038
+12% in Chicago, IL
1 Bedroom
$1,258
$1,331
+6% in Portland, ME
2 Bedroom
$1,406
$1,664
+18% in Portland, ME
3 Bedroom
$1,554
$1,919
+23% in Portland, ME

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$315,200
$452,600
+44% in Portland, ME

Income

Median Household Income
$75,134
$76,174
+1% in Portland, ME
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,720
$56,960
+4% in Portland, ME

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.7 yr
37.5 yr
+1.8 yr in Portland, ME
Homeownership
45.5%
46.7%
+1.2 pp in Portland, ME
Bachelor's+ (25+)
43.3%
59.2%
+15.9 pp in Portland, ME
Avg Commute
33.5 min
19.9 min
+13.6 min in Chicago, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
539.8
272.7
+49% in Chicago, IL
Property Crime
3,489.9
2,513.3
+28% 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
46.5°F
+6.2°F in Chicago, IL
Annual Precipitation
38.0 in
47.3 in
+9.3 in in Portland, ME

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.29/gal
$3.86/gal
+10% 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)
23.9
28.6
+20% in Portland, ME
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.39
$21.00
+36% in Portland, 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 Portland, ME
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Chicago, IL
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.90
+2% in Portland, ME
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.19
+4% in Portland, ME
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in Portland, 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 Portland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Chicago or Portland?
Chicago, IL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,490 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Portland, ME's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Chicago than in Portland?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $50,000 a year in Chicago versus $53,000 in Portland.
Which has lower taxes, Chicago or Portland?
Chicago is taxed under Illinois's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Portland 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).