Living Cost Compare
Newark

Delaware

$1,620/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 $1,620 in Newark, DE versus $1,650 in Portland, ME. Overall, Newark, DE is roughly 2% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Portland, ME, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $71,373 in Newark, DE and $76,174 in Portland, ME — about 6% higher in Portland, ME. Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax; Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Newark, DE
Portland, ME

Rent

Studio
$1,649
$1,038
+37% in Newark, DE
1 Bedroom
$1,391
$1,331
+4% in Newark, DE
2 Bedroom
$1,513
$1,664
+10% in Portland, ME
3 Bedroom
$1,916
$1,919
+0% in Portland, ME

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$357,600
$452,600
+27% in Portland, ME

Income

Median Household Income
$71,373
$76,174
+7% in Portland, ME
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,310
$56,960
+5% in Portland, ME

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
22.0 yr
37.5 yr
+15.5 yr in Portland, ME
Homeownership
50.3%
46.7%
+3.6 pp in Newark, DE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
57.5%
59.2%
+1.7 pp in Portland, ME
Avg Commute
19.6 min
19.9 min
+0.3 min in Portland, ME

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
326.3
272.7
+16% in Newark, DE
Property Crime
2,024.6
2,513.3
+24% 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
54.9°F
46.5°F
+8.4°F in Newark, DE
Annual Precipitation
43.1 in
47.3 in
+4.2 in in Portland, ME

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.94/gal
about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.3
29.6
+53% in Portland, ME
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.73
$31.62
+6% 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 Newark, DE
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 (DE / ME)
None
5.5%
+5.5 pp in ME
Income Tax (top rate)
6.60%
7.15%
+0.6 pp in ME

Newark vs Portland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Newark or Portland?
Newark, DE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,620 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Portland, ME's $1,650, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Newark than in Portland?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $56,000 a year in Newark versus $53,000 in Portland.
Which has lower taxes, Newark or Portland?
Newark is taxed under Delaware's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no 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).