Living Cost Compare
Portland

Maine

$1,620/mo est.

vs
Springfield

Missouri

$940/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 $940 in Springfield, MO. Overall, Springfield, MO is roughly 42% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Portland, ME, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $76,174 in Portland, ME and $45,984 in Springfield, MO — about 40% 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
Springfield, MO

Rent

Studio
$1,038
$760
+27% in Portland, ME
1 Bedroom
$1,331
$772
+42% in Portland, ME
2 Bedroom
$1,664
$926
+44% in Portland, ME
3 Bedroom
$1,919
$1,158
+40% in Portland, ME

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$452,600
$165,200
+63% in Portland, ME

Income

Median Household Income
$76,174
$45,984
+40% in Portland, ME
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$56,960
$45,780
+20% in Portland, ME

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
37.5 yr
33.6 yr
+3.9 yr in Portland, ME
Homeownership
46.7%
42.9%
+3.8 pp in Portland, ME
Bachelor's+ (25+)
59.2%
30.3%
+28.9 pp in Portland, ME
Avg Commute
19.9 min
18.0 min
+1.9 min in Portland, ME

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
272.7
1,189.8
+336% in Springfield, MO
Property Crime
2,513.3
4,231.6
+68% in Springfield, 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
56.3°F
+9.8°F in Springfield, MO
Annual Precipitation
47.3 in
45.6 in
+1.7 in in Portland, ME

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in Springfield, 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 Springfield, 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 Springfield, 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 Springfield — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Portland or Springfield?
Springfield, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 42% below Portland, ME's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Portland than in Springfield?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $53,000 a year in Portland versus $31,000 in Springfield.
Which has lower taxes, Portland or Springfield?
Portland is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Springfield 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).