Living Cost Compare
Portland

Maine

$1,620/mo est.

vs
San Francisco

California

$2,750/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 $2,750 in San Francisco, CA. Overall, Portland, ME is roughly 41% cheaper to live in day-to-day than San Francisco, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $76,174 in Portland, ME and $141,446 in San Francisco, CA — about 46% higher in San Francisco, CA. Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax; California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax.

Portland, ME
San Francisco, CA

Rent

Studio
$1,038
$1,560
+50% in San Francisco, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,331
$2,425
+82% in San Francisco, CA
2 Bedroom
$1,664
$2,982
+79% in San Francisco, CA
3 Bedroom
$1,919
$3,269
+70% in San Francisco, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$452,600
$1,380,500
+205% in San Francisco, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$76,174
$141,446
+86% in San Francisco, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$56,960
$74,260
+30% in San Francisco, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
37.5 yr
39.7 yr
+2.2 yr in San Francisco, CA
Homeownership
46.7%
38.5%
+8.2 pp in Portland, ME
Bachelor's+ (25+)
59.2%
60.1%
+0.9 pp in San Francisco, CA
Avg Commute
19.9 min
31.2 min
+11.3 min in San Francisco, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
272.7
596.5
+119% in San Francisco, CA
Property Crime
2,513.3
3,962.2
+58% in San Francisco, CA

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
57.3°F
+10.8°F in San Francisco, CA
Annual Precipitation
47.3 in
23.6 in
+23.6 in in Portland, ME

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$5.43/gal
+41% in San Francisco, CA

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs San Francisco.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.50

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
28.6
33.3
+16% in San Francisco, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$21.00
$20.72
+1% in Portland, ME

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.82
+12% in San Francisco, CA
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$2.04
+6% in San Francisco, CA
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$7.36
+7% in San Francisco, CA
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 / CA)
5.5%
7.25%
+1.8 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
7.15%
13.30%
+6.2 pp in CA

Portland vs San Francisco — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Portland or San Francisco?
Portland, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,620 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 41% below San Francisco, CA's $2,750, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Portland than in San Francisco?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $53,000 a year in Portland versus $97,000 in San Francisco.
Which has lower taxes, Portland or San Francisco?
Portland is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); San Francisco under California's (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% 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).