Chicago, IL → Portland, ME
Moving to Portland costs you $460 a month
−$5,520 a year for the same registered nurse, the same household size, and the same number of bedrooms.
| Per month | Chicago | Portland | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $8,208 | $7,888 | −$321 |
| Income and payroll tax | $2,130 | $2,075 | −$55 |
| Take-home pay | $6,079 | $5,813 | −$265 |
| Rent | $1,828 | $1,896 | +$68 |
| Getting around | $392 | $510 | +$118 |
| Groceries | $408 | $410 | +$2 |
| Healthcare | $459 | $462 | +$3 |
| Utilities | $255 | $257 | +$2 |
| Everything else | $357 | $359 | +$2 |
| Left over | $2,380 | $1,920 | −$460 |
To break even in Portland, you'd need to earn
$103,500
Household gross, versus $98,500 today. That's the salary that leaves you exactly as much at the end of the month as Chicago does now.
The tax difference alone
−$477
A year, in state and local income tax. Effective rates: 25.9% in Chicago, 26.3% in Portland.
More about Portland
Chicago, IL in full
World-class city amenities at Midwest home prices, funded by 2.1% property tax.
Portland, ME in full
State income tax topping out at 7.15%, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $2,257 and 185 sunny days; commutes average 25 minutes.
The reverse move
Same two cities, but starting from Portland on Portland wages.
Portland → Chicago →Rent is Zillow's asking rent for each metro; taxes and living costs are modelled. An estimate, not a quote or tax advice. How this is calculated.