Living Cost Compare
Ann Arbor

Michigan

$1,630/mo est.

vs
Portland

Maine

$1,650/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,630 in Ann Arbor, MI versus $1,650 in Portland, ME. Overall, Ann Arbor, MI is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Portland, ME, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $81,089 in Ann Arbor, MI and $76,174 in Portland, ME — about 6% higher in Ann Arbor, MI. Michigan has a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% state sales tax; Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Ann Arbor, MI
Portland, ME

Rent

Studio
$1,274
$1,038
+19% in Ann Arbor, MI
1 Bedroom
$1,389
$1,331
+4% in Ann Arbor, MI
2 Bedroom
$1,692
$1,664
+2% in Ann Arbor, MI
3 Bedroom
$1,812
$1,919
+6% in Portland, ME

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$435,100
$452,600
+4% in Portland, ME

Income

Median Household Income
$81,089
$76,174
+6% in Ann Arbor, MI
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$55,380
$56,960
+3% in Portland, ME

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
27.7 yr
37.5 yr
+9.8 yr in Portland, ME
Homeownership
45.6%
46.7%
+1.1 pp in Portland, ME
Bachelor's+ (25+)
77.7%
59.2%
+18.5 pp in Ann Arbor, MI
Avg Commute
19.9 min
19.9 min
about equal

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
311
272.7
+12% in Ann Arbor, MI
Property Crime
1,744.5
2,513.3
+44% in Portland, ME

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
47.7°F
46.5°F
+1.2°F in Ann Arbor, MI
Annual Precipitation
32.8 in
47.3 in
+14.4 in in Portland, ME

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in Portland, ME

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
23.0
29.6
+29% in Portland, ME
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$19.72
$31.62
+60% in Portland, ME

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.92
+16% in Portland, ME
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Ann Arbor, MI
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.90
+2% in Portland, ME
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.19
+4% in Portland, ME
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in Portland, ME

Average prices — Midwest vs Northeast (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MI / ME)
6%
5.5%
+0.5 pp in MI
Income Tax (top rate)
4.25%
7.15%
+2.9 pp in ME

Ann Arbor vs Portland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Ann Arbor or Portland?
Ann Arbor, MI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,630 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Portland, ME's $1,650, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Ann Arbor than in Portland?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $56,000 a year in Ann Arbor versus $53,000 in Portland.
Which has lower taxes, Ann Arbor or Portland?
Ann Arbor is taxed under Michigan's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% state sales tax); Portland under Maine's (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).