Living Cost Compare
Philadelphia

Pennsylvania

$1,410/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 $1,410 in Philadelphia, PA versus $1,620 in Portland, ME. Overall, Philadelphia, PA is roughly 13% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Portland, ME, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $60,698 in Philadelphia, PA and $76,174 in Portland, ME — about 20% higher in Portland, ME. Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax; Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Philadelphia, PA
Portland, ME

Rent

Studio
$1,126
$1,038
+8% in Philadelphia, PA
1 Bedroom
$1,189
$1,331
+12% in Portland, ME
2 Bedroom
$1,394
$1,664
+19% in Portland, ME
3 Bedroom
$1,406
$1,919
+36% in Portland, ME

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$232,400
$452,600
+95% in Portland, ME

Income

Median Household Income
$60,698
$76,174
+25% in Portland, ME
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,310
$56,960
+5% in Portland, ME

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.1 yr
37.5 yr
+2.4 yr in Portland, ME
Homeownership
52.3%
46.7%
+5.6 pp in Philadelphia, PA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.6%
59.2%
+24.6 pp in Portland, ME
Avg Commute
32.0 min
19.9 min
+12.1 min in Philadelphia, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
917.1
272.7
+70% in Philadelphia, PA
Property Crime
4,615.3
2,513.3
+46% in Philadelphia, PA

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
57.1°F
46.5°F
+10.6°F in Philadelphia, PA
Annual Precipitation
48.5 in
47.3 in
+1.3 in in Philadelphia, PA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.86/gal
about equal

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.50
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
21.6
28.6
+33% in Portland, ME
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$19.17
$21.00
+10% in Portland, ME

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.92
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.90
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.69
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (PA / ME)
6%
5.5%
+0.5 pp in PA
Income Tax (top rate)
3.07%
7.15%
+4.1 pp in ME

Philadelphia vs Portland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Philadelphia or Portland?
Philadelphia, PA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,410 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Portland, ME's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Philadelphia than in Portland?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $48,000 a year in Philadelphia versus $53,000 in Portland.
Which has lower taxes, Philadelphia or Portland?
Philadelphia is taxed under Pennsylvania's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% 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).