Living Cost Compare
Baltimore

Maryland

$1,300/mo est.

vs
Portland

Maine

$1,620/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,300 in Baltimore, MD versus $1,620 in Portland, ME. Overall, Baltimore, MD is roughly 20% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Portland, ME, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $59,623 in Baltimore, MD and $76,174 in Portland, ME — about 22% higher in Portland, ME. 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.

Baltimore, MD
Portland, ME

Rent

Studio
$1,050
$1,038
+1% in Baltimore, MD
1 Bedroom
$1,073
$1,331
+24% in Portland, ME
2 Bedroom
$1,353
$1,664
+23% in Portland, ME
3 Bedroom
$1,555
$1,919
+23% in Portland, ME

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$219,300
$452,600
+106% in Portland, ME

Income

Median Household Income
$59,623
$76,174
+28% in Portland, ME
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$59,070
$56,960
+4% in Baltimore, MD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.1 yr
37.5 yr
+1.4 yr in Portland, ME
Homeownership
47.5%
46.7%
+0.8 pp in Baltimore, MD
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.4%
59.2%
+23.8 pp in Portland, ME
Avg Commute
29.4 min
19.9 min
+9.5 min in Baltimore, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,616.7
272.7
+83% in Baltimore, MD
Property Crime
4,202.6
2,513.3
+40% in Baltimore, MD

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
61.4°F
46.5°F
+14.9°F in Baltimore, MD
Annual Precipitation
42.4 in
47.3 in
+4.8 in in Portland, ME

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.86/gal
about equal

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
—

Adult base one-way fare — MTA Maryland vs — (2026).

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 Baltimore, 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)
6%
5.5%
+0.5 pp in MD
Income Tax (top rate)
6.50%
7.15%
+0.7 pp in ME

Baltimore vs Portland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baltimore or Portland?
Baltimore, MD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below Portland, ME's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baltimore than in Portland?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Baltimore versus $53,000 in Portland.
Which has lower taxes, Baltimore or Portland?
Baltimore 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).