Median one-bedroom rent across the cities we track is $1,235 in Florida versus $1,331 in Maine. Overall, Florida runs roughly 7% cheaper on rent than Maine, its main day-to-day cost driver.
Median household income across tracked cities is $69,142 in Florida and $76,174 in Maine — about 9% higher in Maine. Florida has no state income tax and a 6% 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
6%
5.5%
+0.5 pp in Florida
Income Tax (top rate)
None
7.15%
+7.2 pp in Maine
Housing (median across tracked cities)
Median 1BR Rent
$1,235
$1,331
+8% in Maine
Median Home Value
$320,700
$452,600
+41% in Maine
Income (median across tracked cities)
Median Household Income
$69,142
$76,174
+10% in Maine
Climate (median across tracked cities)
Avg Annual Temperature
71.8°F
46.5°F
+25.3°F in Florida
Florida vs Maine — FAQ
- Is it cheaper to live in Florida or Maine?
- Florida is cheaper on rent — its median one-bedroom of $1,235 runs about 7% below Maine's $1,331, based on the cities we track in each state.
- How much more do you need to earn to live in Florida 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 $49,000 a year in Florida versus $53,000 in Maine.
- Which has lower taxes, Florida or Maine?
- Florida has no state income tax and a 6% 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 2/1 cities we track in Florida/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.