Cost of Living in Portland, ME
Portland-South Portland, ME — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Portland, ME to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Portland, ME?
With a price level of 101.9 (U.S. average = 100), Portland, ME is close to the national average. In detail, housing costs run 5% above average; everyday goods are 3% below average; utilities run 35% above average; other services such as healthcare and dining run 3% above average. The biggest difference from the national average is in utilities.
Prices in Portland, ME vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 101.9 | +1.9% |
| Housing | 105.2 | +5.2% |
| Goods | 97.2 | −2.8% |
| Utilities | 134.6 | +34.6% |
| Other services | 103.2 | +3.2% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Portland, ME
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,383 | $55,320/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $1,548 | $61,920/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,968 | $78,720/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,476 | $99,040/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,835 | $113,400/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Portland, ME
To keep the same standard of living as in an average-priced U.S. city, you would need to earn roughly:
| Salary in an average U.S. city | Equivalent in Portland, ME | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $40,700 | $33,314 |
| $60,000 | $61,100 | $48,331 |
| $80,000 | $81,500 | $61,834 |
| $100,000 | $101,900 | $74,726 |
| $150,000 | $152,800 | $106,275 |
Scaled by the BEA price level (pre-tax). Take-home: single filer, Maine 2026 taxes. For a tax-aware comparison with a specific city, use the calculator above.
A monthly budget on the median wage
A single worker earning Portland, ME's median wage of $56,960 takes home about $3,774 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $1,548, which is 41% of take-home pay — well above the 30% guideline, so many workers here share housing or rent smaller units. That leaves about $2,226 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Portland, ME
- Federal income tax$4,655
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,532
- Medicare (1.45%)$826
- Maine income tax$2,663
- Take-home pay$45,284
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.75% state
Highest-paying jobs in Portland, ME
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Pay and living costs in Maine cities
Half of Maine’s 640,610 workers earn less than $51,430 a year and half earn more; the middle 50% earn $40,120–$76,230 (BLS, May 2025). Prices vary a lot within the state: Portland, ME stretches a paycheck furthest, while Bangor, ME is the costliest.
| Metro area | Median pay | Price level | 1-BR rent | Rent share | Left after rent / mo | Buying power* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland, ME | $56,960 | 101.9 | $1,548 | 41% | $2,226 | $44,458 |
| Bangor, ME | $47,960 | 96.5 | $1,218 | 38% | $2,004 | $40,059 |
| Lewiston, ME | $49,540 | 94.7 | $1,218 | 37% | $2,101 | $42,036 |
*Yearly take-home pay (on each metro’s median wage, single filer) in U.S.-average dollars. Price level: BEA RPP 2024 (U.S. = 100). Rent: HUD FY2026 one-bedroom fair market rent.
Portland, ME vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland, ME | 101.9 | $1,548 | $56,960 | 288,480 |
| Stockton, CA | 105.1 | $1,395 | $48,990 | 289,660 |
| Lexington, KY | 92.9 | $1,079 | $48,620 | 286,910 |
| Toledo, OH | 91.5 | $820 | $48,220 | 291,530 |
| New Haven, CT | 104.6 | $1,591 | $60,060 | 281,410 |
| McAllen, TX | 85.9 | $847 | $35,830 | 296,700 |
| Syracuse, NY | 95.7 | $1,123 | $52,990 | 300,130 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Portland, ME expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Portland-South Portland, ME metro area are 101.9% of the U.S. average, with housing at 105.2%. It is the #58 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Portland, ME?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $61,115 in Portland, ME (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $56,960.
Can you afford Portland, ME on the median wage?
A single worker on the $56,960 median wage takes home about $3,774 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $1,548 would take 41% of that.
How much is rent in Portland, ME?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Portland, ME are $1,383 for a studio, $1,548 for one bedroom, $1,968 for two bedrooms and $2,476 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
Top salaries by field in Portland, ME
Management Occupations
- General and Operations Manager — $105,390
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $77,470
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $76,770
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $48,770
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $88,470
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Nursing Assistant — $48,180
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $38,580
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- Cooks, Restaurant — $46,560
- Waiter and Waitress — $44,070
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $35,300
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
- Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker — $46,670
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners — $40,460
Personal Care and Service Occupations
- Childcare Worker — $36,620
Sales and Related Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $55,550
- Retail Salesperson — $37,320
- Cashier — $36,210
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $70,240
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $54,610
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — $52,000
- Customer Service Representative — $47,910
- Office Clerks, General — $47,040
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $52,580
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $59,900
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $45,350
- Stocker and Order Filler — $38,930