Is it cheaper to live in Portland or Seattle?

Portland, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,620 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below Seattle, WA's $2,030, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Portland than in Seattle?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $53,000 a year in Portland versus $74,000 in Seattle.

Which has lower taxes, Portland or Seattle?

Portland is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Seattle under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax).

Portland vs Seattle Cost of Living 2026

Portland

Maine

$1,620/mo est.

Seattle

Washington

$2,030/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 $2,030 in Seattle, WA. Overall, Portland, ME is roughly 20% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Seattle, WA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $76,174 in Portland, ME and $121,984 in Seattle, WA — about 38% higher in Seattle, WA. Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Washington has no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Portland, ME

Seattle, WA

Rent

Studio

$1,038

$1,638

+58% in Seattle, WA

1 Bedroom

$1,331

$1,858

+40% in Seattle, WA

2 Bedroom

$1,664

$2,359

+42% in Seattle, WA

3 Bedroom

$1,919

$2,918

+52% in Seattle, WA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$452,600

$912,100

+102% in Seattle, WA

Income

Median Household Income

$76,174

$121,984

+60% in Seattle, WA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$56,960

$72,610

+27% in Seattle, WA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

37.5 yr

35.5 yr

+2.0 yr in Portland, ME

Homeownership

46.7%

44.2%

+2.5 pp in Portland, ME

Bachelor's+ (25+)

59.2%

67.5%

+8.3 pp in Seattle, WA

Avg Commute

19.9 min

26.6 min

+6.7 min in Seattle, WA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

272.7

788.6

+189% in Seattle, WA

Property Crime

2,513.3

5,108.8

+103% in Seattle, WA

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

53.5°F

+7.0°F in Seattle, WA

Annual Precipitation

47.3 in

37.7 in

+9.5 in in Portland, ME

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.86/gal

$5.31/gal

+38% in Seattle, WA

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Seattle.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.75

Adult base one-way fare — — vs King County Metro (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

28.6

14.9

+48% in Portland, ME

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$21.00

$20.41

+3% in Portland, ME

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Seattle, WA

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$2.04

+6% in Seattle, WA

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$7.36

+7% in Seattle, WA

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 / WA)

5.5%

6.5%

+1.0 pp in WA

Income Tax (top rate)

7.15%

None

+7.2 pp in ME

Portland vs Seattle — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Portland or Seattle?: Portland, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,620 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below Seattle, WA's $2,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Portland than in Seattle?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $53,000 a year in Portland versus $74,000 in Seattle.
Which has lower taxes, Portland or Seattle?: Portland is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Seattle under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% 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).