Median one-bedroom rent across the cities we track is $1,688 in California versus $1,331 in Maine. Overall, Maine runs roughly 21% cheaper on rent than California, its main day-to-day cost driver.
Median household income across tracked cities is $83,969 in California and $76,174 in Maine — about 9% higher in California. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax.
State Taxes
Sales Tax
7.25%
5.5%
+1.8 pp in California
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
7.15%
+6.2 pp in California
Housing (median across tracked cities)
Median 1BR Rent
$1,688
$1,331
+21% in California
Median Home Value
$771,700
$452,600
+41% in California
Income (median across tracked cities)
Median Household Income
$83,969
$76,174
+9% in California
Climate (median across tracked cities)
Avg Annual Temperature
64.4°F
46.5°F
+17.9°F in California
California vs Maine — FAQ
- Is it cheaper to live in California or Maine?
- Maine is cheaper on rent — its median one-bedroom of $1,331 runs about 21% below California's $1,688, based on the cities we track in each state.
- How much more do you need to earn to live in California than in Maine?
- To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, based on median rent across tracked cities, you'd want to earn roughly $68,000 a year in California versus $53,000 in Maine.
- Which has lower taxes, California or Maine?
- California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax. Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax.
Housing, income, and climate are medians across the 9/1 cities we track in California/Maine — not population-weighted statewide figures. Taxes are exact state-level rates. Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year; NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010; Tax Foundation 2026.