Living Cost Compare
Portland

Maine

$1,620/mo est.

vs
St. Paul

Minnesota

$1,300/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 $1,300 in St. Paul, MN. Overall, St. Paul, MN is roughly 20% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Portland, ME, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $76,174 in Portland, ME and $73,055 in St. Paul, MN — about 4% higher in Portland, ME. Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax.

Portland, ME
St. Paul, MN

Rent

Studio
$1,038
$995
+4% in Portland, ME
1 Bedroom
$1,331
$1,126
+15% in Portland, ME
2 Bedroom
$1,664
$1,384
+17% in Portland, ME
3 Bedroom
$1,919
$1,662
+13% in Portland, ME

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$452,600
$280,300
+38% in Portland, ME

Income

Median Household Income
$76,174
$73,055
+4% in Portland, ME
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$56,960
$59,320
+4% in St. Paul, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
37.5 yr
33.5 yr
+4.0 yr in Portland, ME
Homeownership
46.7%
53.2%
+6.5 pp in St. Paul, MN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
59.2%
43.5%
+15.7 pp in Portland, ME
Avg Commute
19.9 min
22.3 min
+2.4 min in St. Paul, MN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
272.7
619
+127% in St. Paul, MN
Property Crime
2,513.3
2,897.2
+15% in St. Paul, MN

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
47.1°F
+0.6°F in St. Paul, MN
Annual Precipitation
47.3 in
28.5 in
+18.7 in in Portland, ME

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.95/gal
+2% in St. Paul, MN

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Minnesota.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
28.6
16.9
+41% in Portland, ME
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$21.00
$14.95
+29% 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
$1.66
+14% in Portland, ME
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$3.63
+66% in St. Paul, MN
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 / MN)
5.5%
6.875%
+1.4 pp in MN
Income Tax (top rate)
7.15%
9.85%
+2.7 pp in MN

Portland vs St. Paul — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Portland or St. Paul?
St. Paul, MN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% 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. Paul?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $53,000 a year in Portland versus $45,000 in St. Paul.
Which has lower taxes, Portland or St. Paul?
Portland is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); St. Paul under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% 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).