| Index | Portland | Maine | National |
| Cost of living | 119 | 100 | 100 |
| Groceries | 103 | 103 | 100 |
| Health care | 101 | 101 | 100 |
| Housing | 155 | 91 | 100 |
| Transportation | 101 | 103 | 100 |
| Utilities | 109 | 108 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 105 | 103 | 100 |
| Household Items | 103 | 103 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 109 | 106 | 100 |
Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Portland? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Portland stands at 119, making it 19% higher than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.
Housing costs are a major factor in the Portland cost of living index, and they often eat up a big chunk of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, housing expenses for both homeownership and rentals were 54.5% higher than what's typical in an average city. That includes the prices of homes and rents, as well as mortgage rates and insurance.
The real experts on a city are its residents. That's why we reached out to 14 locals to get their views on the cost of living in Portland. We surveyed the residents and asked them if they felt like prices were affordable or out of reach. The results were as follows. 14% found it budget-friendly with decreasing prices, while 86% said it's simply not affordable as prices have continued to rise.
Is Portland an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Portland, the median home price is 67.8% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 23.6% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Portland come in at $91,459, which is 12.5% higher than the national average.
Transportation: If public transportation is limited or not available, residents may need to own and maintain vehicles, which can add to the cost of living. Gas, insurance, regular maintenance and potentially lease or finance payments will all need to be paid on a monthly basis. In Portland, the transportation index is 1.4% higher than the national average.
Healthcare: Healthcare expenses and insurance premiums can vary significantly depending on the specific city or state. Factors such as accessibility to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor's visits, dental care expenses, prescription costs and specialized medical care fees can all influence the overall cost of living. In Portland, healthcare costs are 0.5% higher than the national average.
Housing: When there's a high demand for housing in trendy places, it can cause property prices and rental rates to soar, leading to a significantly higher cost of living. Conversely, in less desirable locations, where demand is low, prices tend to decrease, resulting in a more budget-friendly cost of living. In Portland, the housing index is 54.5% higher than the national average.
The cost of living estimates displayed for Portland are modeled using a U.S. average baseline of 100, helping provide a useful comparison of local living expenses. Housing calculations include U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other values are AI-assisted estimates based on regional cost patterns, climate, transportation, and everyday spending expectations. These values are intended for directional comparisons across cities.
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| Groceries index | |
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| Utilities index | |
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| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $143,468 | $11,956 | $3,347 | $4,304 |
| Renters | $62,134 | $5,178 | $1,450 | $1,864 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Maine | 5.5% | 5.5% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Maine | 5.8% | 7.15% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Little Falls, ME | 761 | 101 | 1.5% |
| Standish, ME | 203 | 106 | 5.6% |
| Freeport, ME | 1,947 | 106 | 6.0% |
| Old Orchard Beach, ME | 9,273 | 108 | 7.8% |
| Westbrook, ME | 19,325 | 110 | 10.4% |
| Portland, ME | 68,956 | 119 | 19.1% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| South San Francisco, CA | 68,998 | 207 | 107.1% |
| Alpharetta, GA | 69,031 | 135 | 35.5% |
| Yuba City, CA | 68,813 | 127 | 27.2% |
| Mount Vernon, NY | 69,130 | 133 | 33.3% |
| Johnson City, TN | 69,135 | 95 | 5.0% |
| Portland, ME | 68,956 | 119 | 19.1% |
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