City Comparison

Peoria vs Portland

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Peoria

Illinois
76
Very Affordable
$164,000
Median Home
$1,000/mo
Median Rent
$58,700
Median Income

Portland

Maine
117
Above Average
$395,000
Median Home
$1,700/mo
Median Rent
$56,895
Median Income

The Verdict

35.0%

The cost gap between these cities is 35.0%, with Peoria being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Peoria has equivalent purchasing power to $115,461 in Portland.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
42
Peoria
137
Portland
Groceries
97
Peoria
107
Portland
Utilities
103
Peoria
111
Portland
Transportation
108
Peoria
98
Portland
Healthcare
107
Peoria
110
Portland

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Peoria has the same purchasing power as $115,461 in Portland.

Conversely, $75,000 in Portland equals $48,718 in Peoria.

Living in Peoria vs Portland

Housing Costs

Peoria's housing index of 42 is lower Portland's 137, translating to median home prices of $164,000 vs $395,000. The $231,000 difference in home prices means roughly $15,012 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in Peoria compared to $1,700/mo in Portland, a monthly difference of $700.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 97 in Peoria and 107 in Portland. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Peoria vs $508/month in Portland. Peoria offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $564/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 103 in Peoria and 111 in Portland. Monthly utility bills average approximately $412 in Peoria vs $444 in Portland. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 107 in Peoria and 110 in Portland. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $58,700 in Peoria and $56,895 in Portland. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $77,237 and $48,628 respectively. Peoria residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,370/month to housing in Peoria vs $1,328/month in Portland. In Peoria, median rent of $1,000/mo fits within this budget. In Portland, median rent of $1,700/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 95 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Peoria is 35.0% more affordable overall with an index of 76 vs 117.
A $75,000 salary in Peoria has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $115,461 in Portland, based on the cost of living difference.
Peoria's housing index is 42 with median homes at $164,000, while Portland's is 137 with median homes at $395,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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