Living Cost Compare
Cambridge

Massachusetts

$2,810/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 $2,810 in Cambridge, MA versus $1,650 in Portland, ME. Overall, Portland, ME is roughly 41% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Cambridge, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $126,469 in Cambridge, MA and $76,174 in Portland, ME — about 40% higher in Cambridge, MA. Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax; Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Cambridge, MA
Portland, ME

Rent

Studio
$2,236
$1,038
+54% in Cambridge, MA
1 Bedroom
$2,496
$1,331
+47% in Cambridge, MA
2 Bedroom
$2,980
$1,664
+44% in Cambridge, MA
3 Bedroom
$3,325
$1,919
+42% in Cambridge, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$1,040,500
$452,600
+57% in Cambridge, MA

Income

Median Household Income
$126,469
$76,174
+40% in Cambridge, MA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$66,620
$56,960
+15% in Cambridge, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
30.5 yr
37.5 yr
+7.0 yr in Portland, ME
Homeownership
33.7%
46.7%
+13.0 pp in Portland, ME
Bachelor's+ (25+)
80.2%
59.2%
+21.0 pp in Cambridge, MA
Avg Commute
26.1 min
19.9 min
+6.2 min in Cambridge, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
436.7
272.7
+38% in Cambridge, MA
Property Crime
2,657.6
2,513.3
+5% in Cambridge, MA

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
51.5°F
46.5°F
+5.0°F in Cambridge, MA
Annual Precipitation
43.8 in
47.3 in
+3.5 in in Portland, ME

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.07/gal
$3.94/gal
+3% in Cambridge, MA

Area: Massachusetts vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
29.6
29.6
+0% in Cambridge, MA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$30.66
$31.62
+3% in Portland, ME

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.92
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.90
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.69
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MA / ME)
6.25%
5.5%
+0.8 pp in MA
Income Tax (top rate)
9.00%
7.15%
+1.8 pp in MA

Cambridge vs Portland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cambridge or Portland?
Portland, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,650 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 41% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cambridge than in Portland?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $100,000 a year in Cambridge versus $53,000 in Portland.
Which has lower taxes, Cambridge or Portland?
Cambridge is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% 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).