Living Cost Compare
Naperville

Illinois

$1,830/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 $1,830 in Naperville, IL versus $1,620 in Portland, ME. Overall, Portland, ME is roughly 11% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Naperville, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $150,937 in Naperville, IL and $76,174 in Portland, ME — about 50% higher in Naperville, 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.

Naperville, IL
Portland, ME

Rent

Studio
$1,713
$1,038
+39% in Naperville, IL
1 Bedroom
$1,594
$1,331
+16% in Naperville, IL
2 Bedroom
$1,889
$1,664
+12% in Naperville, IL
3 Bedroom
$2,446
$1,919
+22% in Naperville, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$509,900
$452,600
+11% in Naperville, IL

Income

Median Household Income
$150,937
$76,174
+50% in Naperville, IL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,720
$56,960
+4% in Portland, ME

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
40.1 yr
37.5 yr
+2.6 yr in Naperville, IL
Homeownership
74.3%
46.7%
+27.6 pp in Naperville, IL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
71.7%
59.2%
+12.5 pp in Naperville, IL
Avg Commute
31.4 min
19.9 min
+11.5 min in Naperville, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
85.7
272.7
+218% in Portland, ME
Property Crime
892.2
2,513.3
+182% in Portland, ME

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
49.9°F
46.5°F
+3.4°F in Naperville, IL
Annual Precipitation
36.9 in
47.3 in
+10.3 in in Portland, ME

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.86/gal
+2% in Naperville, IL

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

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 Naperville, 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

Naperville vs Portland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Naperville or Portland?
Portland, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,620 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Naperville, IL's $1,830, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Naperville than in Portland?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $64,000 a year in Naperville versus $53,000 in Portland.
Which has lower taxes, Naperville or Portland?
Naperville 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).