Living Cost Compare
Green Bay

Wisconsin

$920/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 $920 in Green Bay, WI versus $1,620 in Portland, ME. Overall, Green Bay, WI is roughly 43% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Portland, ME, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $62,546 in Green Bay, WI and $76,174 in Portland, ME — about 18% higher in Portland, ME. Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax; Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Green Bay, WI
Portland, ME

Rent

Studio
$707
$1,038
+47% in Portland, ME
1 Bedroom
$730
$1,331
+82% in Portland, ME
2 Bedroom
$956
$1,664
+74% in Portland, ME
3 Bedroom
$1,287
$1,919
+49% in Portland, ME

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$191,500
$452,600
+136% in Portland, ME

Income

Median Household Income
$62,546
$76,174
+22% in Portland, ME
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,940
$56,960
+14% in Portland, ME

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.7 yr
37.5 yr
+1.8 yr in Portland, ME
Homeownership
55.9%
46.7%
+9.2 pp in Green Bay, WI
Bachelor's+ (25+)
25.5%
59.2%
+33.7 pp in Portland, ME
Avg Commute
18.9 min
19.9 min
+1.0 min in Portland, ME

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
501.7
272.7
+46% in Green Bay, WI
Property Crime
1,331.2
2,513.3
+89% in Portland, ME

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
44.3°F
46.5°F
+2.2°F in Portland, ME
Annual Precipitation
29.5 in
47.3 in
+17.7 in in Portland, ME

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.86/gal
+2% in Green Bay, WI

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.7
28.6
+45% in Portland, ME
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.79
$21.00
+78% in Portland, ME

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.92
+16% in Portland, ME
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Green Bay, WI
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 (WI / ME)
5%
5.5%
+0.5 pp in ME
Income Tax (top rate)
7.65%
7.15%
+0.5 pp in WI

Green Bay vs Portland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Green Bay or Portland?
Green Bay, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $920 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 43% below Portland, ME's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Green Bay than in Portland?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Green Bay versus $53,000 in Portland.
Which has lower taxes, Green Bay or Portland?
Green Bay is taxed under Wisconsin's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% 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).