Cost of living in Portland, ME Livability score 58 · cost-of-living index 104.4 (US = 100)
How Portland compares Where Portland falls within the range of all 200 metros (marker = this city).
Cost-of-living index (US=100) 85 118 Cost-of-living index (US=100): 104 — range 85 to 118 across all metros 104 Median home price $149k $1610k Median home price: $542k — range $149k to $1610k across all metros $542k Price per sqft (more house = lower) $88 $1074 Price per sqft (more house = lower): $319 — range $88 to $1074 across all metros $319 Combined sales tax 0.0% 11.5% Combined sales tax: 5.5% — range 0.0% to 11.5% across all metros 5.5% Property tax rate 0.28% 2.76% Property tax rate: 1.14% — range 0.28% to 2.76% across all metros 1.14% Violent crime (per 100k) 110 1,000 Violent crime (per 100k): 110 — range 110 to 1,000 across all metros 110 Electricity (¢/kWh) 12.3 46.6 Electricity (¢/kWh): 28.4 — range 12.3 to 46.6 across all metros 28.4 Avg summer high (°F) 65° 104° Avg summer high (°F): 80° — range 65° to 104° across all metros 80° Avg winter low (°F) -2° 72° Avg winter low (°F): 10° — range -2° to 72° across all metros 10° Map of Portland Grocery stores, parks, golf courses and more — real listings. Toggle categories in the legend.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors · business listings via Google Maps
Cost of living Metric Value US rank Cost-of-living index (US=100) 104.4 #169 of 200 Grocery index (US=100) 98.3 #145 of 200 Big Mac price (est.) $5.94 #169 of 200 Median household income $84,095 #43 of 200 Median wage (all occupations) $45,483 #38 of 200
Economy Metric Value US rank Unemployment rate 3.37% #10 of 200 Population growth (5-yr) +5.2% #78 of 200
Housing — what your money buys Metric Value US rank Median home price $542,063 #172 of 200 Home price ÷ income (affordability) 6.4× #169 of 200 1-yr home appreciation +1.0% #109 of 200 Price per square foot $319 #176 of 200 Typical home size (implied) 1,700 sqft Median rent (monthly) $2,320 #178 of 200 Homes for sale (inventory) 1,707 Median days on market 8 #29 of 200
Taxes Metric Value US rank Total tax burden (est. % of income) 12.4% #159 of 200 Combined sales tax 5.50% #11 of 200 State income tax (top rate) 7.15% Capital gains tax 7.15% #155 of 200 High earners No special surtax Effective property tax rate 1.14% #124 of 200 Median property tax paid $3,922 #154 of 200
Healthcare & childcare Metric Value US rank Healthcare (annual, single adult) $8,000 #192 of 200 Childcare (annual, infant, center) $12,000 #110 of 200
Vehicles & commute Metric Value US rank Annual registration $100 #83 of 200 Vehicle property tax (annual) 2.40% of value (~$672/yr) #191 of 200 Emissions testing Not required Emissions detail No vehicle emissions testing DMV & license offices 4 Avg commute to work 25 min #116 of 200
Utilities & fuel Metric Value US rank Electricity 28.4¢/kWh #165 of 200 Avg monthly electric bill $256 #165 of 200 Gasoline $3.35/gal #111 of 200
Insurance Metric Value US rank Home insurance (annual) $1,000 #4 of 200 Auto insurance (annual) $1,000 #1 of 200
Disaster risk & supplemental insurance Metric Value US rank Main natural hazards Notable hazards: hurricanes — separate flood/quake/windstorm policies may be needed. Flood insurance (annual, NFIP) $700 #61 of 200 Earthquake insurance (annual) $100 #1 of 200
Climate & air quality Metric Value US rank Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner) 39 #31 of 200 Cooling degree-days (AC load) 300 #2 of 200 Heating degree-days (heat load) 7,500 #195 of 200 Avg summer high 80°F #8 of 200 Avg winter low 10°F #190 of 200 Plant hardiness zone 5a Frost window 05-15 → 10-01
Safety Metric Value US rank Violent crime (per 100k) 110 #1 of 200 Property crime (per 100k) 1,200 #7 of 200
Local amenities & recreation Metric Value US rank Grocery stores 120 #5 of 200 Parks 60 Hiking areas 15 Golf courses 15 Shooting ranges 4 Lakes 4
Permits Metric Value US rank Building permit difficulty (1–5) 3 #87 of 200 Permit detail Moderate
US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.
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Estimates for guidance only — not financial or legal advice. Live/official data:
cost-of-living & grocery (BEA RPP); home price, rent, inventory, days-on-market (Zillow);
income & property tax (US Census ACS); electricity (US EIA); plant-hardiness (USDA);
crime (FBI UCR); local grocery, park, hiking, golf, shooting-range, lake & DMV
counts (Google Maps listings) via our own scraper.
Taxes (Tax Foundation) and insurance, emissions, permits, climate, wages and fuel use
sourced state/metro figures.