Living Cost Compare
Columbus

Ohio

$1,270/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 $1,270 in Columbus, OH versus $1,620 in Portland, ME. Overall, Columbus, OH is roughly 22% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Portland, ME, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,327 in Columbus, OH and $76,174 in Portland, ME — about 14% 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.

Columbus, OH
Portland, ME

Rent

Studio
$1,014
$1,038
+2% in Portland, ME
1 Bedroom
$1,059
$1,331
+26% in Portland, ME
2 Bedroom
$1,276
$1,664
+30% in Portland, ME
3 Bedroom
$1,369
$1,919
+40% in Portland, ME

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$234,500
$452,600
+93% in Portland, ME

Income

Median Household Income
$65,327
$76,174
+17% in Portland, ME
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,340
$56,960
+11% in Portland, ME

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.0 yr
37.5 yr
+4.5 yr in Portland, ME
Homeownership
44.3%
46.7%
+2.4 pp in Portland, ME
Bachelor's+ (25+)
38.2%
59.2%
+21.0 pp in Portland, ME
Avg Commute
21.8 min
19.9 min
+1.9 min in Columbus, OH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
485.2
272.7
+44% in Columbus, OH
Property Crime
3,093.9
2,513.3
+19% in Columbus, 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 Columbus, OH
Annual Precipitation
40.1 in
47.3 in
+7.1 in in Portland, ME

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.18/gal
$3.86/gal
+8% in Columbus, OH

Area: Ohio vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.5
28.6
+47% in Portland, ME
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.83
$21.00
+8% in Columbus, OH

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.92
+16% in Portland, ME
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Columbus, 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

Columbus vs Portland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Columbus or Portland?
Columbus, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,270 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 22% below Portland, ME's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Columbus than in Portland?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Columbus versus $53,000 in Portland.
Which has lower taxes, Columbus or Portland?
Columbus 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).