Living Cost Compare
Montgomery

Alabama

$1,020/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 $1,020 in Montgomery, AL versus $1,650 in Portland, ME. Overall, Montgomery, AL is roughly 38% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Portland, ME, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $55,687 in Montgomery, AL and $76,174 in Portland, ME — about 27% higher in Portland, ME. Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax; Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Montgomery, AL
Portland, ME

Rent

Studio
$864
$1,038
+20% in Portland, ME
1 Bedroom
$831
$1,331
+60% in Portland, ME
2 Bedroom
$982
$1,664
+69% in Portland, ME
3 Bedroom
$1,172
$1,919
+64% in Portland, ME

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$148,500
$452,600
+205% in Portland, ME

Income

Median Household Income
$55,687
$76,174
+37% in Portland, ME
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$44,950
$56,960
+27% in Portland, ME

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.2 yr
37.5 yr
+1.3 yr in Portland, ME
Homeownership
54.3%
46.7%
+7.6 pp in Montgomery, AL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
33.5%
59.2%
+25.7 pp in Portland, ME
Avg Commute
20.5 min
19.9 min
+0.6 min in Montgomery, AL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
605.5
272.7
+55% in Montgomery, AL
Property Crime
2,258.3
2,513.3
+11% 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
65.1°F
46.5°F
+18.6°F in Montgomery, AL
Annual Precipitation
53.1 in
47.3 in
+5.8 in in Montgomery, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.94/gal
+9% in Portland, ME

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.4
29.6
+80% in Portland, ME
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.06
$31.62
+31% in Portland, ME

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Portland, ME
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.92
+10% in Portland, ME
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Montgomery, AL
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.90
+7% in Portland, ME
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.19
+15% in Portland, ME
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in Portland, ME

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AL / ME)
4%
5.5%
+1.5 pp in ME
Income Tax (top rate)
5.00%
7.15%
+2.2 pp in ME

Montgomery vs Portland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Montgomery or Portland?
Montgomery, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 38% below Portland, ME's $1,650, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Montgomery than in Portland?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Montgomery versus $53,000 in Portland.
Which has lower taxes, Montgomery or Portland?
Montgomery is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% 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).