Living Cost Compare
Portland

Maine

$1,620/mo est.

vs
Portland

Oregon

$1,620/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,620 in Portland, ME versus $1,620 in Portland, OR. The two are close overall, within a few percent of each other.

Median household income is $76,174 in Portland, ME and $88,792 in Portland, OR — about 14% higher in Portland, OR. Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax.

Portland, ME
Portland, OR

Rent

Studio
$1,038
$1,294
+25% in Portland, OR
1 Bedroom
$1,331
$1,440
+8% in Portland, OR
2 Bedroom
$1,664
$1,741
+5% in Portland, OR
3 Bedroom
$1,919
$2,053
+7% in Portland, OR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$452,600
$557,600
+23% in Portland, OR

Income

Median Household Income
$76,174
$88,792
+17% in Portland, OR
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$56,960
$60,690
+7% in Portland, OR

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
37.5 yr
38.6 yr
+1.1 yr in Portland, OR
Homeownership
46.7%
52.8%
+6.1 pp in Portland, OR
Bachelor's+ (25+)
59.2%
53.5%
+5.7 pp in Portland, ME
Avg Commute
19.9 min
24.6 min
+4.7 min in Portland, OR

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
272.7
732.3
+169% in Portland, OR
Property Crime
2,513.3
5,609.4
+123% in Portland, OR

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
46.5°F
54.5°F
+8.0°F in Portland, OR
Annual Precipitation
47.3 in
42.9 in
+4.4 in in Portland, ME

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$5.09/gal
+32% in Portland, OR

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.80

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
28.6
16.3
+43% in Portland, ME
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$21.00
$20.59
+2% in Portland, ME

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.82
+12% in Portland, OR
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$2.04
+6% in Portland, OR
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$7.36
+7% in Portland, OR
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$2.01
+8% in Portland, ME
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.70
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (ME / OR)
5.5%
None
+5.5 pp in ME
Income Tax (top rate)
7.15%
9.90%
+2.8 pp in OR

Portland vs Portland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Portland or Portland?
They're close. Portland, ME runs about $1,620 a month and Portland, OR about $1,620 (1BR rent + utilities) — within a few percent of each other.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Portland than in Portland?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $53,000 a year in Portland versus $58,000 in Portland.
Which has lower taxes, Portland or Portland?
Portland is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Portland under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no 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).