Is it cheaper to live in Chicago or Portland?

Chicago, IL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,440 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Portland, OR's $1,600, 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 $58,000 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 Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax).

Chicago vs Portland Cost of Living 2026

Chicago

Illinois

$1,440/mo est.

Portland

Oregon

$1,600/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,440 in Chicago, IL versus $1,600 in Portland, OR. Overall, Chicago, IL is roughly 10% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Portland, OR, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $75,134 in Chicago, IL and $88,792 in Portland, OR — about 15% higher in Portland, OR. Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax; Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax.

Chicago, IL

Portland, OR

Rent

Studio

$1,186

$1,294

+9% in Portland, OR

1 Bedroom

$1,258

$1,440

+14% in Portland, OR

2 Bedroom

$1,406

$1,741

+24% in Portland, OR

3 Bedroom

$1,554

$2,053

+32% in Portland, OR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$315,200

$557,600

+77% in Portland, OR

Income

Median Household Income

$75,134

$88,792

+18% in Portland, OR

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$54,720

$60,690

+11% in Portland, OR

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.7 yr

38.6 yr

+2.9 yr in Portland, OR

Homeownership

45.5%

52.8%

+7.3 pp in Portland, OR

Bachelor's+ (25+)

43.3%

53.5%

+10.2 pp in Portland, OR

Avg Commute

33.5 min

24.6 min

+8.9 min in Chicago, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

539.8

731.7

+36% in Portland, OR

Property Crime

3,489.9

5,605.5

+61% in Portland, OR

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

54.5°F

+1.8°F in Portland, OR

Annual Precipitation

38.0 in

42.9 in

+4.9 in in Portland, OR

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.82/gal

$5.57/gal

+15% in Portland, OR

Area: Chicago vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.50

$2.80

+12% in Portland, OR

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

18.9

14.9

+21% in Chicago, IL

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$12.10

$17.98

+49% in Portland, OR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.14

$4.37

+6% in Portland, OR

Bread (lb)

$1.79

$2.10

+17% in Portland, OR

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.25

+38% in Chicago, IL

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.97

$7.23

+4% in Portland, OR

Chicken (lb)

$2.15

$2.14

+1% in Chicago, IL

Bananas (lb)

$0.63

$0.74

+18% in Portland, OR

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IL / OR)

6.25%

None

+6.3 pp in IL

Income Tax (top rate)

4.95%

9.90%

+5.0 pp in OR

Chicago vs Portland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Chicago or Portland?: Chicago, IL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,440 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Portland, OR's $1,600, 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 $58,000 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 Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no 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).