Living Cost Compare
Portland

Maine

$1,620/mo est.

vs
St. Louis

Missouri

$1,030/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 $1,030 in St. Louis, MO. Overall, St. Louis, MO is roughly 36% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Portland, ME, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $76,174 in Portland, ME and $55,279 in St. Louis, MO — about 27% higher in Portland, ME. Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax.

Portland, ME
St. Louis, MO

Rent

Studio
$1,038
$864
+17% in Portland, ME
1 Bedroom
$1,331
$866
+35% in Portland, ME
2 Bedroom
$1,664
$1,109
+33% in Portland, ME
3 Bedroom
$1,919
$1,135
+41% in Portland, ME

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$452,600
$185,100
+59% in Portland, ME

Income

Median Household Income
$76,174
$55,279
+27% in Portland, ME
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$56,960
$49,990
+12% in Portland, ME

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
37.5 yr
36.6 yr
+0.9 yr in Portland, ME
Homeownership
46.7%
45.4%
+1.3 pp in Portland, ME
Bachelor's+ (25+)
59.2%
40.2%
+19.0 pp in Portland, ME
Avg Commute
19.9 min
22.2 min
+2.3 min in St. Louis, MO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
272.7
1,372.9
+403% in St. Louis, MO
Property Crime
2,513.3
5,794.9
+131% in St. Louis, MO

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
55.7°F
+9.2°F in St. Louis, MO
Annual Precipitation
47.3 in
40.9 in
+6.3 in in Portland, ME

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in St. Louis, MO

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
28.6
13.7
+52% in Portland, ME
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$21.00
$24.13
+15% in St. Louis, MO

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.66
+14% in Portland, ME
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$3.63
+66% in St. Louis, MO
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.77
+2% in Portland, ME
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$2.10
+4% in Portland, ME
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.62
+11% in Portland, ME

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (ME / MO)
5.5%
4.225%
+1.3 pp in ME
Income Tax (top rate)
7.15%
4.70%
+2.5 pp in ME

Portland vs St. Louis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Portland or St. Louis?
St. Louis, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 36% below Portland, ME's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Portland than in St. Louis?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $53,000 a year in Portland versus $35,000 in St. Louis.
Which has lower taxes, Portland or St. Louis?
Portland is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); St. Louis under Missouri's (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% 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).