City comparison
Chicago vs Portland Cost of Living
Compare overall indexes, housing costs, and budget targets between Chicago (113.6) and Portland (120.2).
Chicago Index
113.6
Portland Index
120.2
Chicago Rent
$2,375
Portland Rent
$2,675
Chicago Home price
$377,000
Portland Home price
$500,000
Salary equivalent calculator
Enter your current salary in Chicago to estimate the income needed for a similar lifestyle in Portland.
Equivalent salary in Portland
$96,287
Based on the relative overall cost of living between Chicago and Portland.
Category-by-category differences
Use this table to see which categories make one city more or less expensive than the other.
| Category | Chicago | Portland | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | 128 | 145 | +17.0 (+13.3%) |
| Groceries | 106 | 112 | +6.0 (+5.7%) |
| Transportation | 112 | 107 | -5.0 (-4.5%) |
| Healthcare | 104 | 104 | +0.0 (+0.0%) |
| Utilities | 101 | 101 | +0.0 (+0.0%) |
| Miscellaneous | 105 | 109 | +4.0 (+3.8%) |
Budget comparison
Single
$5,130 / $5,440
Chicago / Portland
Couple
$8,520 / $9,030
Chicago / Portland
Family
$12,000 / $12,730
Chicago / Portland
Frequently Asked Questions
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View Chicago city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Chicago.
View Portland city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Portland.
Last updated: Q1 2026
Data as of Q1 2026. Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau, HUD Fair Market Rents.
Cost of living indexes use the national average as baseline (100). Data is updated periodically.