Cost of living in Portland, Maine: rent, homes and salary
In Portland, Maine, the cost of living sits 1.9% above the US average. For 2024, BEA puts the RPP of the Portland, ME metro area at 101.9, the US at 100, and housing alone at 105.2.
- Level of prices
- 101.9US = 100, BEA 2024
- Price level for housing
- 105.2 for rents, US = 100.
Cost of living index for Portland, Maine
With the US average set at 100, a regional price parity measures the cost of the same goods and services in one place against that average. Portland, Maine lies within the Portland-South Portland, ME metro area. BEA prices that entire area as one. Nothing sits further from the US average than utilities: 134.6, or 34.6% above the US.
| Price level, US = 100 | Portland, ME metro | Maine | Metro against the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 101.9 | 97.0 | +1.9% |
| Goods | 97.2 | 97.2 | −2.8% |
| Housing (rents) | 105.2 | 78.9 | +5.2% |
| Utilities | 134.6 | 135.2 | +34.6% |
| Other services | 103.2 | 103.2 | +3.2% |
The Bureau of Economic Analysis in the U.S. provides 2024 regional price parities for metro areas and states. BEA regional price parities
Rents in Portland, Maine
The Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI) puts the typical asking rent in Portland, Maine at $2,399 a month. It covers rent on homes listed now, and it is +1.7% on a year. Across the US, the figure is $1,932. Median gross rent from the Census is $1,711; it counts every renting household, not only new leases. A year of asking rent equals 35% of the median household income.
| Rent | Portland, Maine | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Typical asking rent, Zillow ZORI | $2,399 | $1,932 |
| Asking rent, 12-month change | +1.7% | |
| Median gross rent, Census ACS 2024 | $1,711 | $1,487 |
| Asking rent for a year, as a share of median income | 35% | 28% |
One-year estimates from the Census Bureau American Community Survey 2024, plus the Zillow Observed Rent Index.
Prices of homes in Portland, Maine
In September 2026, the Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI) put the value of a home in the middle of the market in Portland, Maine at $554,454. That is +0.3% on a year, compared with $366,157 for the US. The price equals 6.8 years of median household income, compared with 4.5 for the US.
| Home prices | Portland, Maine | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value, September 2026 | $554,454 | $366,157 |
| 12-month change | +0.3% | +1.2% |
| 10-year change | +101.8% | +77.4% |
| Price to income (years of median income) | 6.8 | 4.5 |
| Price to rent (years of asking rent) | 19.3 | 15.8 |
Days on market, the forecast and a price chart since 2000: Portland, Maine housing market.
Earning enough to live in Portland, Maine
For Portland, Maine, the salary you need depends on where you live and on what you earn. It buys what your pay buys today.
- Moving from where you are now
- Salary
Every city side by side, plus the method: cost of living comparison.
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Portland, Maine cost of living compared with other cities
| City | Level of prices | Housing | Typical rent figure | Home value, typical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland, Maine | 101.9 | 105.2 | $2,399 | $554,454 |
| New York City | 112.6 | 148.6 | $4,089 | $825,854 |
| Los Angeles | 113.6 | 170.4 | $2,772 | $927,891 |
| Chicago | 103.6 | 112.0 | $2,311 | $334,108 |
| Houston | 98.6 | 104.5 | $1,544 | $259,465 |
| Phoenix | 103.3 | 121.2 | $1,571 | $404,067 |
| Philadelphia | 102.6 | 113.1 | $1,757 | $231,584 |
| San Antonio | 94.7 | 94.6 | $1,381 | $244,623 |
| San Diego | 111.9 | 179.3 | $3,004 | $980,490 |
BEA regional price parities (2024) give these price levels, with US = 100. Rent figures: Zillow ZORI. Home values: Zillow ZHVI, September 2026.
Every city ranked: city cost of living comparison. Every state listed: cost of living for each state.