Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas
A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,220 in Columbia, SC versus $1,650 in Portland, ME. Overall, Columbia, SC is roughly 26% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Portland, ME, driven mainly by rent.
Median household income is $55,653 in Columbia, SC and $76,174 in Portland, ME — about 27% higher in Portland, ME. South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax; Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax.
Rent
Buying a Home
Income
People & Lifestyle
Crime (per 100k/yr)
FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.
Climate
Gas
Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs East Coast (PADD 1).
Utilities
Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.
Groceries
Average prices — South vs Northeast (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.
State Taxes
Columbia vs Portland — FAQ
- Is it cheaper to live in Columbia or Portland?
- Columbia, SC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,220 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 26% below Portland, ME's $1,650, mainly because of rent.
- How much more do you need to earn to live in Columbia than in Portland?
- To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Columbia versus $53,000 in Portland.
- Which has lower taxes, Columbia or Portland?
- Columbia is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% 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).