Is it cheaper to live in Annapolis or Portland?

Portland, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,620 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Annapolis, MD's $1,820, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Annapolis than in Portland?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $64,000 a year in Annapolis versus $53,000 in Portland.

Which has lower taxes, Annapolis or Portland?

Annapolis is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% 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).

Annapolis vs Portland Cost of Living 2026

Annapolis

Maryland

$1,820/mo est.

Portland

Maine

$1,620/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,820 in Annapolis, MD versus $1,620 in Portland, ME. Overall, Portland, ME is roughly 11% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Annapolis, MD, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $104,257 in Annapolis, MD and $76,174 in Portland, ME — about 27% higher in Annapolis, MD. Maryland has a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Annapolis, MD

Portland, ME

Rent

Studio

$1,239

$1,038

+16% in Annapolis, MD

1 Bedroom

$1,598

$1,331

+17% in Annapolis, MD

2 Bedroom

$1,864

$1,664

+11% in Annapolis, MD

3 Bedroom

$2,232

$1,919

+14% in Annapolis, MD

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$510,200

$452,600

+11% in Annapolis, MD

Income

Median Household Income

$104,257

$76,174

+27% in Annapolis, MD

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$59,070

$56,960

+4% in Annapolis, MD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

40.9 yr

37.5 yr

+3.4 yr in Annapolis, MD

Homeownership

59.8%

46.7%

+13.1 pp in Annapolis, MD

Bachelor's+ (25+)

53.7%

59.2%

+5.5 pp in Portland, ME

Avg Commute

28.7 min

19.9 min

+8.8 min in Annapolis, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

806

272.7

+66% in Annapolis, MD

Property Crime

2,111.5

2,513.3

+19% 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

57.1°F

46.5°F

+10.6°F in Annapolis, MD

Annual Precipitation

—

47.3 in

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.86/gal

about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

21.8

28.6

+32% in Portland, ME

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$18.94

$21.00

+11% in Portland, ME

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Portland, ME

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.92

+10% in Portland, ME

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Annapolis, MD

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.90

+7% in Portland, ME

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.19

+15% in Portland, ME

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Portland, ME

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MD / ME)

5.5%

+0.5 pp in MD

Income Tax (top rate)

6.50%

7.15%

+0.7 pp in ME

Annapolis vs Portland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Annapolis or Portland?: Portland, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,620 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Annapolis, MD's $1,820, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Annapolis than in Portland?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $64,000 a year in Annapolis versus $53,000 in Portland.
Which has lower taxes, Annapolis or Portland?: Annapolis is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% 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).