Cost of living index

Portland, ME

101.9 / 100

Living in Portland, ME is 1.9% more expensive than the US average — the #58 of 387 highest nationally.

Median rent: $1,384/mo

Median home value: $379,500

Figures — including the cost index, median rent, and median home value — cover the wider Portland, ME metropolitan area, not individual neighbourhoods or city boundaries.

Seasonal weather

Winter

35° / 18°F

(2° / -8°C)

11.5 in precip

Spring

54° / 36°F

(12° / 2°C)

12.2 in precip

Summer

77° / 59°F

(25° / 15°C)

11.2 in precip

Fall

60° / 42°F

(16° / 6°C)

13.3 in precip

30-year climate normals (1991–2020) from PORTLAND INTL JETPORT, via NOAA.

What it costs to live in Portland, ME

The Portland, ME metro area has an overall price level of 101.9 compared with the national average of 100, meaning everyday costs run about 1.9% higher than a typical US metro. Housing tells the sharper story: at 105.2 it is 5.2% above the national average. Housing rents are often one of the largest sources of difference between metro areas, so this figure can have a significant impact when comparing locations.

Cost breakdown

Overall#58 of 387

101.9

Goods#103 of 387

97.2

Housing rents#80 of 387

105.2

Utilities#42 of 387

134.6

Other services#15 of 387

103.2

Portland, ME is moved up the most by utilities, at 134.6 vs a US average of 100, while the closest to average is goods.

How Portland, ME compares

Other metros in Maine

Bangor, ME96.5 Lewiston, ME94.7

Browse Maine →See the cheapest and most expensive US metros →

Data source

Figures on this page come from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities dataset, 2024 — the most recent year published. An index of 100 marks the national average; a metro above 100 has higher prices than a typical US metro, below 100 lower. Median rent and median home value are from the US Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) 2023 5-year estimates, and seasonal weather is from NOAA’s 1991–2020 climate normals. These are regional figures only, not a complete personal budget — they don’t account for individual spending habits, taxes, or household circumstances. See the full methodology for how the index and salary-equivalent estimates are calculated.

Compare My City is an independent project and is not operated by, endorsed by, or affiliated with the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the Census Bureau, or NOAA.

Common questions

Is Portland, ME an expensive place to live?

Portland, ME has an overall cost-of-living index of 101.9, where 100 is the US average. That makes it about 1.9% more expensive than the country as a whole.

Is housing expensive in Portland, ME?

Housing rents in Portland, ME score 105.2 against a US average of 100 — roughly 5.2% above average. Housing rents are often the main driver of differences in overall price levels between metro areas.

How does Portland, ME compare to the US average cost of living?

Overall prices in Portland, ME sit at 101.9 versus 100 for the US average, with housing at 105.2. Figures come from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis for 2024.