Cost of Living in Portland, ME
Updated November 2026 · Cumberland County · Portland-South Portland, ME metro area · population 68,854
Prices in Portland are 2.8% above the US average (local index 102.8; the BEA index for the Portland-South Portland, ME metro area is 101.9), with utilities the biggest cost driver at 134.6; a single adult's modelled budget is about $3,088 a month and the median rent is $1,577.
Prices by category
CostLiving local estimate. 100 = US average; 110 means prices are 10% higher. Housing reflects Portland's own median rent compared with the area's average rent; goods, utilities and other services are BEA's official price parities for the Portland-South Portland, ME metro area, unchanged.
Portland price index by category, US average = 100: All items 102.8, Housing (rents) 111.9, Goods 97.2, Utilities 134.6, Other services 103.2
More expensive than 52% of the cities we cover.
| BEA index | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 97.6 | 102.6 | 101.9 | 104.8 | 104.4 | 101.9 |
Monthly budget by household type
1 adult · 1-bedroom · modelled estimate for Portland, ME
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $1,323 | $15,876 | 43% |
| Utilities | $321 | $3,852 | 10% |
| Food at home | $274 | $3,288 | 9% |
| Transportation | $642 | $7,704 | 21% |
| Health care | $363 | $4,356 | 12% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $165 | $1,980 | 5% |
| Total | $3,088 | $37,056 | 100% |
2 adults · 2-bedroom · modelled estimate for Portland, ME
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $1,569 | $18,828 | 32% |
| Utilities | $514 | $6,168 | 11% |
| Food at home | $506 | $6,072 | 10% |
| Transportation | $1,271 | $15,252 | 26% |
| Health care | $672 | $8,064 | 14% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $326 | $3,912 | 7% |
| Total | $4,858 | $58,296 | 100% |
2 adults + 2 children · 3-bedroom · modelled estimate for Portland, ME
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $1,895 | $22,740 | 32% |
| Utilities | $625 | $7,500 | 10% |
| Food at home | $722 | $8,664 | 12% |
| Transportation | $1,690 | $20,280 | 28% |
| Health care | $626 | $7,512 | 10% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $419 | $5,028 | 7% |
| Total | $5,977 | $71,724 | 100% |
Modelled estimate of basic costs, excluding taxes, child care and savings. Housing is rent excluding tenant-paid utilities (counted under utilities). See how the budget is calculated.
Housing costs in Portland
Rent by number of bedrooms
| Size | Median rent |
|---|---|
| Studio | $1,076 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,443 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,711 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,067 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,421 |
Median rent: Census ACS 2020-2024 median gross rent by bedrooms (rent plus tenant-paid utilities, all renters).
Rent, home values and affordability
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,577 |
| Median contract rent (excl. utilities) | $1,446 |
| Median home value | $489,600 |
| Owner costs with a mortgage | $2,295/mo |
| Median household income | $79,540 |
| Rent as % of renter income Expensive | 30.6% |
| Home value ÷ household income Expensive | 6.2× |
Census ACS 5-year 2020-2024.
Electricity and gas prices
Residential electricity in Maine
32.11¢ per kWh, August 2026
12-month change: +14.1% (from 28.14¢) · US 18.16¢
Average household uses 528 kWh a month in Maine ≈ $156/month. Source: EIA-861M (statewide average).
Regular gasoline regional figure: New England (PADD 1A)
$4.14 per gallon, week of 2026-11-02
12-month change: +41.4% (from $2.93) · US $4.15
EIA weekly retail price survey; Maine is covered by the New England (PADD 1A) average.
Inflation in the Northeast
Consumer prices in the Northeast Census region rose +4.2% in the 12 months to September 2026 (US +3.7%). Nationally, food at home changed +1.8%, shelter +3.2% and energy +20.4%. Source: BLS CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted. CPI is published for regions and large metro areas, so the regional figure is shown.
Salary equivalent
Because prices in Portland are 2.8% above the US average, $60,000 here has the buying power of about $58,400 in an average-priced US area.
Formula: US-equivalent = salary × 100 ÷ 102.8. Based on the local cost index (CostLiving estimate from BEA RPP and Census rents); taxes not included.
Nearby cities
| City | Distance | Index | Budget (single) | Median rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haverhill, MA | 74 mi | 105.5 | $3,027 | $1,668 |
| Manchester, NH | 78 mi | 106.5 | $2,915 | $1,564 |
| Methuen, MA | 79 mi | 106.6 | $2,750 | $1,749 |
| Lawrence, MA | 81 mi | 105.4 | $2,798 | $1,662 |
| Peabody, MA | 86 mi | 109.2 | $3,567 | $1,950 |
| Lynn, MA | 89 mi | 106.2 | $2,733 | $1,722 |
Cities with a similar cost of living
| City | Index | Budget (single) | Median rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cathedral City, CA | 102.8 | $2,661 | $1,601 |
| Meridian, ID | 102.9 | $3,113 | $1,805 |
| Hesperia, CA | 102.7 | $2,788 | $1,590 |
| Elgin, IL | 102.9 | $2,681 | $1,361 |
| Town 'n' Country, FL | 102.7 | $3,118 | $1,734 |
| Richland, WA | 102.9 | $2,802 | $1,468 |
Compare Portland with another city
Frequently asked questions
Is Portland, ME an expensive place to live?
Portland has a local cost of living index of 102.8, which is 2.8% above the US average. This CostLiving estimate starts from the BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for the Portland-South Portland, ME metro area (101.9) and adjusts housing to Portland's own rents. It is 5.7 points above the Maine average. More expensive than 52% of the cities we cover.
How much money do you need to live in Portland?
Our modelled estimate of basic monthly costs is $3,088 for a single adult, $4,858 for a couple and $5,977 for a family of four, before taxes, child care and savings. A $60,000 salary in an average-priced US area buys about the same as $61,700 in Portland.
What is the average rent in Portland?
The median gross rent (rent plus tenant-paid utilities) is $1,577 a month (Census ACS 2020-2024). By size: 1 bedroom $1,443, 2 bedrooms $1,711, 3 bedrooms $2,067. The typical renter spends 30.6% of household income on rent (expensive).
How much does a house cost in Portland?
The median owner-estimated home value is $489,600, 6.2 times the median household income of $79,540 (expensive). Owners with a mortgage pay a median $2,295 a month in housing costs.
How much is electricity and gas in Portland?
Maine residential electricity averaged 32.11¢ per kWh in August 2026 (US 18.16¢). Regular gasoline was $4.14 a gallon (New England (PADD 1A) average, week of 2026-11-02).
Sources and notes
- Local cost index: CostLiving estimate from BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for the Portland-South Portland, ME metropolitan statistical area (BEA index 101.9) with housing from Census ACS median rent (city figure); see the methodology.
- Rents, home values, income, population: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year 2020-2024, Census place 2360545 (Portland city).
- Electricity: EIA-861M, Maine residential average, August 2026.
- Gasoline: EIA weekly retail regular gasoline, New England (PADD 1A), week of 2026-11-02.
- Inflation: BLS CPI-U Northeast region, September 2026.
- Budget baselines: BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey 2025; electricity use by household size: EIA RECS 2020.
- Gasoline price: regional figure (EIA publishes weekly prices for only 9 states).
Labels such as “county figure” or “state nonmetro figure” mark values that come from a larger area because the city-level figure is unavailable or unreliable. The monthly budget is a modelled estimate, not observed spending, and excludes taxes. This page is for general information and is not financial advice. Methodology · All sources