Is it cheaper to live in Cleveland or Portland?

Cleveland, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 42% below Portland, ME's $1,620, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cleveland versus $53,000 in Portland.

Which has lower taxes, Cleveland or Portland?

Cleveland is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax); Portland under Maine's (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax).

Cleveland vs Portland Cost of Living 2026

Cleveland

Ohio

$940/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 $940 in Cleveland, OH versus $1,620 in Portland, ME. Overall, Cleveland, OH is roughly 42% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Portland, ME, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $39,187 in Cleveland, OH and $76,174 in Portland, ME — about 49% higher in Portland, ME. Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax; Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Cleveland, OH

Portland, ME

Rent

Studio

$678

$1,038

+53% in Portland, ME

1 Bedroom

$732

$1,331

+82% in Portland, ME

2 Bedroom

$903

$1,664

+84% in Portland, ME

3 Bedroom

$1,081

$1,919

+78% in Portland, ME

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$94,100

$452,600

+381% in Portland, ME

Income

Median Household Income

$39,187

$76,174

+94% in Portland, ME

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$50,140

$56,960

+14% in Portland, ME

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.3 yr

37.5 yr

+1.2 yr in Portland, ME

Homeownership

41.2%

46.7%

+5.5 pp in Portland, ME

Bachelor's+ (25+)

21.3%

59.2%

+37.9 pp in Portland, ME

Avg Commute

22.9 min

19.9 min

+3.0 min in Cleveland, OH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,582

272.7

+83% in Cleveland, OH

Property Crime

4,531.3

2,513.3

+45% in Cleveland, OH

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

52.7°F

46.5°F

+6.2°F in Cleveland, OH

Annual Precipitation

36.4 in

47.3 in

+10.9 in in Portland, ME

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.18/gal

$3.86/gal

+8% in Cleveland, OH

Area: Ohio vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

19.5

28.6

+47% in Portland, ME

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$22.83

$21.00

+8% in Cleveland, OH

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$1.92

+16% in Portland, ME

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Cleveland, OH

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 (OH / ME)

5.75%

5.5%

+0.3 pp in OH

Income Tax (top rate)

2.75%

7.15%

+4.4 pp in ME

Cleveland vs Portland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cleveland or Portland?: Cleveland, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 42% below Portland, ME's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cleveland than in Portland?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cleveland versus $53,000 in Portland.
Which has lower taxes, Cleveland or Portland?: Cleveland is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% 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).