Living Cost Compare
Portland

Maine

$1,620/mo est.

vs
Raleigh

North Carolina

$1,510/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 $1,510 in Raleigh, NC. Overall, Raleigh, NC is roughly 7% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Portland, ME, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $76,174 in Portland, ME and $82,424 in Raleigh, NC — about 8% higher in Raleigh, NC. Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax; North Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax.

Portland, ME
Raleigh, NC

Rent

Studio
$1,038
$1,301
+25% in Raleigh, NC
1 Bedroom
$1,331
$1,323
+1% in Portland, ME
2 Bedroom
$1,664
$1,462
+12% in Portland, ME
3 Bedroom
$1,919
$1,715
+11% in Portland, ME

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$452,600
$377,800
+17% in Portland, ME

Income

Median Household Income
$76,174
$82,424
+8% in Raleigh, NC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$56,960
$51,990
+9% in Portland, ME

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
37.5 yr
34.7 yr
+2.8 yr in Portland, ME
Homeownership
46.7%
51.2%
+4.5 pp in Raleigh, NC
Bachelor's+ (25+)
59.2%
52.9%
+6.3 pp in Portland, ME
Avg Commute
19.9 min
23.4 min
+3.5 min in Raleigh, NC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
272.7
491.5
+80% in Raleigh, NC
Property Crime
2,513.3
2,838.4
+13% in Raleigh, NC

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
60.6°F
+14.1°F in Raleigh, NC
Annual Precipitation
47.3 in
46.0 in
+1.2 in in Portland, ME

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)
—
$1.25

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
28.6
15.1
+47% in Portland, ME
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$21.00
$27.56
+31% in Raleigh, NC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Portland, ME
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.75
+9% in Portland, ME
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Raleigh, NC
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.45
+6% in Portland, ME
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$1.90
+13% in Portland, ME
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.62
+11% in Portland, ME

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (ME / NC)
5.5%
4.75%
+0.8 pp in ME
Income Tax (top rate)
7.15%
3.99%
+3.2 pp in ME

Portland vs Raleigh — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Portland or Raleigh?
Raleigh, NC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,510 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below Portland, ME's $1,620, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Portland than in Raleigh?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $53,000 a year in Portland versus $53,000 in Raleigh.
Which has lower taxes, Portland or Raleigh?
Portland is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Raleigh under North Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% 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).