Living Cost Compare
Portland

Maine

$1,620/mo est.

vs
Salt Lake City

Utah

$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 Salt Lake City, UT. Overall, Salt Lake City, UT 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 $74,925 in Salt Lake City, UT — about 2% higher in Portland, ME. Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Utah has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax.

Portland, ME
Salt Lake City, UT

Rent

Studio
$1,038
$997
+4% in Portland, ME
1 Bedroom
$1,331
$1,166
+12% in Portland, ME
2 Bedroom
$1,664
$1,461
+12% in Portland, ME
3 Bedroom
$1,919
$1,993
+4% in Salt Lake City, UT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$452,600
$495,700
+10% in Salt Lake City, UT

Income

Median Household Income
$76,174
$74,925
+2% in Portland, ME
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$56,960
$55,240
+3% in Portland, ME

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
37.5 yr
33.0 yr
+4.5 yr in Portland, ME
Homeownership
46.7%
46.8%
+0.1 pp in Salt Lake City, UT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
59.2%
50.9%
+8.3 pp in Portland, ME
Avg Commute
19.9 min
19.6 min
+0.3 min in Portland, ME

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
272.7
878.8
+222% in Salt Lake City, UT
Property Crime
2,513.3
5,257.3
+109% in Salt Lake City, UT

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
52.8°F
+6.3°F in Salt Lake City, UT
Annual Precipitation
47.3 in
16.1 in
+31.1 in in Portland, ME

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$4.29/gal
+11% in Salt Lake City, UT

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
28.6
13.0
+55% in Portland, ME
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$21.00
$10.26
+51% in Portland, ME

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.82
+12% in Salt Lake City, UT
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$2.04
+6% in Salt Lake City, UT
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$7.36
+7% in Salt Lake City, UT
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 / UT)
5.5%
6.1%
+0.6 pp in UT
Income Tax (top rate)
7.15%
4.50%
+2.7 pp in ME

Portland vs Salt Lake City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Portland or Salt Lake City?
Salt Lake City, UT 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 Salt Lake City?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $53,000 a year in Portland versus $47,000 in Salt Lake City.
Which has lower taxes, Portland or Salt Lake City?
Portland is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Salt Lake City under Utah's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% 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).