SalaryCompareTool

Philadelphia, PA vs Portland, ME

Moving from Philadelphia to Portland? Here's what changes — from your equivalent salary to housing ($390,463 → $542,063 median home) and taxes.

Philadelphia vs Portland at a glance

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

Philadelphia, PA Portland, ME Cost-of-living index Philadelphia, PA — Cost-of-living index: 102 102 Portland, ME — Cost-of-living index: 104 104 Median home price Philadelphia, PA — Median home price: $390k $390k Portland, ME — Median home price: $542k $542k Price per sqft Philadelphia, PA — Price per sqft: $223 $223 Portland, ME — Price per sqft: $319 $319 Median rent Philadelphia, PA — Median rent: $1,914 $1,914 Portland, ME — Median rent: $2,320 $2,320 Combined sales tax Philadelphia, PA — Combined sales tax: 6.3% 6.3% Portland, ME — Combined sales tax: 5.5% 5.5% Property tax rate Philadelphia, PA — Property tax rate: 1.61% 1.61% Portland, ME — Property tax rate: 1.14% 1.14% Violent crime /100k Philadelphia, PA — Violent crime /100k: 390 390 Portland, ME — Violent crime /100k: 110 110 Electricity ¢/kWh Philadelphia, PA — Electricity ¢/kWh: 21.5 21.5 Portland, ME — Electricity ¢/kWh: 28.4 28.4 Avg commute (min) Philadelphia, PA — Avg commute (min): 29 29 Portland, ME — Avg commute (min): 25 25 Avg summer high °F Philadelphia, PA — Avg summer high °F: 85° 85° Portland, ME — Avg summer high °F: 80° 80° Avg winter low °F Philadelphia, PA — 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 Philadelphia, PA, you'd need about $101,945 in Portland, ME (+$1,945).

Livability — Philadelphia, PA: 62 · Portland, ME: 58 (0–100).

What your home budget buys

A $500,000 home budget gets you about 2,241 sqft in Philadelphia vs 1,568 sqft in Portland ($223 vs $319 per sqft).

Annual cost breakdown (at $100,000)

CategoryPhiladelphia, PAPortland, MEDifference
Housing $22,968 $27,840 +$4,872
Groceries $4,909 $4,917 +$8
Transportation $3,440 $2,775 −$665
Utilities $2,316 $3,072 +$756
Insurance $1,200 $1,000 −$200
Taxes $10,192 $12,997 +$2,805
Total $45,025 $52,601 +$7,576

Side by side

MetricPhiladelphia, PAPortland, ME
Cost-of-living index102.4104.4
Unemployment rate6.12%3.37%
Population growth (5-yr)2.8%5.2%
Air quality (median AQI)5339
Big Mac price (est.)$5.82$5.94
Median home price$390,463$542,063
Home price ÷ income4.6×6.4×
1-yr home appreciation2.5%1.0%
Price per square foot$223$319
Median rent$1,914$2,320
Total tax burden (% income)10.6%12.4%
Combined sales tax6.34%5.50%
Capital gains tax3.07%7.15%
Property tax rate1.61%1.14%
Healthcare (annual)$7,000$8,000
Childcare (annual, infant)$12,000$12,000
Vehicle property taxNone2.40%
Avg commute (min)2925
Home insurance / yr$1,200$1,000
Auto insurance / yr$1,600$1,000
Flood insurance / yr$650$700
Earthquake insurance / yr$100$100
Electricity ¢/kWh21.528.4
Gas $/gal3.553.35
Violent crime /100k390110
Avg summer high °F8580
Avg winter low °F2210
Permit difficulty (1–5)33
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