SalaryCompareTool

Boston, MA vs Portland, ME

Moving from Boston to Portland? Here's what changes — from your equivalent salary to housing ($741,868 → $542,063 median home) and taxes.

Boston vs Portland at a glance

Bars scaled to the range across all 200 metros; labels show actual values.

Boston, MA Portland, ME Cost-of-living index Boston, MA — Cost-of-living index: 110 110 Portland, ME — Cost-of-living index: 104 104 Median home price Boston, MA — Median home price: $742k $742k Portland, ME — Median home price: $542k $542k Price per sqft Boston, MA — Price per sqft: $436 $436 Portland, ME — Price per sqft: $319 $319 Median rent Boston, MA — Median rent: $3,211 $3,211 Portland, ME — Median rent: $2,320 $2,320 Combined sales tax Boston, MA — Combined sales tax: 6.3% 6.3% Portland, ME — Combined sales tax: 5.5% 5.5% Property tax rate Boston, MA — Property tax rate: 1.14% 1.14% Portland, ME — Property tax rate: 1.14% 1.14% Violent crime /100k Boston, MA — Violent crime /100k: 330 330 Portland, ME — Violent crime /100k: 110 110 Electricity ¢/kWh Boston, MA — Electricity ¢/kWh: 29.4 29.4 Portland, ME — Electricity ¢/kWh: 28.4 28.4 Avg commute (min) Boston, MA — Avg commute (min): 31 31 Portland, ME — Avg commute (min): 25 25 Avg summer high °F Boston, MA — Avg summer high °F: 82° 82° Portland, ME — Avg summer high °F: 80° 80° Avg winter low °F Boston, MA — Avg winter low °F: 22° 22° Portland, ME — Avg winter low °F: 10° 10°

To keep the same standard of living as $100,000 in Boston, MA, you'd need about $94,530 in Portland, ME (−$5,470).

Livability — Boston, MA: 48 · Portland, ME: 58 (0–100).

What your home budget buys

A $500,000 home budget gets you about 1,146 sqft in Boston vs 1,568 sqft in Portland ($436 vs $319 per sqft).

Annual cost breakdown (at $100,000)

CategoryBoston, MAPortland, MEDifference
Housing $38,532 $27,840 −$10,692
Groceries $5,040 $4,917 −$123
Transportation $3,210 $2,775 −$435
Utilities $3,180 $3,072 −$108
Insurance $1,800 $1,000 −$800
Taxes $17,694 $12,997 −$4,696
Total $69,455 $52,601 −$16,855

Side by side

MetricBoston, MAPortland, ME
Cost-of-living index110.4104.4
Unemployment rate5.02%3.37%
Population growth (5-yr)2.9%5.2%
Air quality (median AQI)4339
Big Mac price (est.)$6.28$5.94
Median home price$741,868$542,063
Home price ÷ income6.9×6.4×
1-yr home appreciation1.6%1.0%
Price per square foot$436$319
Median rent$3,211$2,320
Total tax burden (% income)11.5%12.4%
Combined sales tax6.25%5.50%
Capital gains tax9.00%7.15%
Property tax rate1.14%1.14%
Healthcare (annual)$8,200$8,000
Childcare (annual, infant)$21,000$12,000
Vehicle property tax2.25%2.40%
Avg commute (min)3125
Home insurance / yr$1,800$1,000
Auto insurance / yr$1,500$1,000
Flood insurance / yr$800$700
Earthquake insurance / yr$100$100
Electricity ¢/kWh29.428.4
Gas $/gal3.303.35
Violent crime /100k330110
Avg summer high °F8280
Avg winter low °F2210
Permit difficulty (1–5)43
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