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Los Angeles, CA vs Portland, ME

Moving from Los Angeles to Portland? Here's what changes — from your equivalent salary to housing ($968,608 → $542,063 median home) and taxes.

Los Angeles vs Portland at a glance

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

Los Angeles, CA Portland, ME Cost-of-living index Los Angeles, CA — Cost-of-living index: 115 115 Portland, ME — Cost-of-living index: 104 104 Median home price Los Angeles, CA — Median home price: $969k $969k Portland, ME — Median home price: $542k $542k Price per sqft Los Angeles, CA — Price per sqft: $646 $646 Portland, ME — Price per sqft: $319 $319 Median rent Los Angeles, CA — Median rent: $2,909 $2,909 Portland, ME — Median rent: $2,320 $2,320 Combined sales tax Los Angeles, CA — Combined sales tax: 8.8% 8.8% Portland, ME — Combined sales tax: 5.5% 5.5% Property tax rate Los Angeles, CA — Property tax rate: 0.69% 0.69% Portland, ME — Property tax rate: 1.14% 1.14% Violent crime /100k Los Angeles, CA — Violent crime /100k: 500 500 Portland, ME — Violent crime /100k: 110 110 Electricity ¢/kWh Los Angeles, CA — Electricity ¢/kWh: 35.3 35.3 Portland, ME — Electricity ¢/kWh: 28.4 28.4 Avg commute (min) Los Angeles, CA — Avg commute (min): 30 30 Portland, ME — Avg commute (min): 25 25 Avg summer high °F Los Angeles, CA — Avg summer high °F: 84° 84° Portland, ME — Avg summer high °F: 80° 80° Avg winter low °F Los Angeles, CA — Avg winter low °F: 45° 45° Portland, ME — Avg winter low °F: 10° 10°

To keep the same standard of living as $100,000 in Los Angeles, CA, you'd need about $90,941 in Portland, ME (−$9,059).

Livability — Los Angeles, CA: 42 · Portland, ME: 58 (0–100).

What your home budget buys

A $500,000 home budget gets you about 774 sqft in Los Angeles vs 1,568 sqft in Portland ($646 vs $319 per sqft).

Annual cost breakdown (at $100,000)

CategoryLos Angeles, CAPortland, MEDifference
Housing $34,908 $27,840 −$7,068
Groceries $5,354 $4,917 −$438
Transportation $5,125 $2,775 −$2,350
Utilities $3,804 $3,072 −$732
Insurance $1,500 $1,000 −$500
Taxes $21,708 $12,997 −$8,711
Total $72,399 $52,601 −$19,799

Side by side

MetricLos Angeles, CAPortland, ME
Cost-of-living index114.7104.4
Unemployment rate6.59%3.37%
Population growth (5-yr)-1.1%5.2%
Air quality (median AQI)8039
Big Mac price (est.)$6.53$5.94
Median home price$968,608$542,063
Home price ÷ income10.9×6.4×
1-yr home appreciation0.3%1.0%
Price per square foot$646$319
Median rent$2,909$2,320
Total tax burden (% income)13.5%12.4%
Combined sales tax8.82%5.50%
Capital gains tax13.30%7.15%
Property tax rate0.69%1.14%
Healthcare (annual)$7,200$8,000
Childcare (annual, infant)$19,000$12,000
Vehicle property tax0.65%2.40%
Avg commute (min)3025
Home insurance / yr$1,500$1,000
Auto insurance / yr$2,400$1,000
Flood insurance / yr$750$700
Earthquake insurance / yr$950$100
Electricity ¢/kWh35.328.4
Gas $/gal4.853.35
Violent crime /100k500110
Avg summer high °F8480
Avg winter low °F4510
Permit difficulty (1–5)53
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