Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas
A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,620 in Portland, ME versus $1,070 in Tucson, AZ. Overall, Tucson, AZ is roughly 34% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Portland, ME, driven mainly by rent.
Median household income is $76,174 in Portland, ME and $54,546 in Tucson, AZ — about 28% higher in Portland, ME. Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Arizona has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax.
Rent
Buying a Home
Income
People & Lifestyle
Crime (per 100k/yr)
FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.
Climate
Gas
Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs West Coast (PADD 5).
Public Transit
Adult base one-way fare — — vs Sun Tran (2026).
Utilities
Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.
Groceries
Average prices — Northeast vs West (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.
State Taxes
Portland vs Tucson — FAQ
- Is it cheaper to live in Portland or Tucson?
- Tucson, AZ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 34% below Portland, ME's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
- How much more do you need to earn to live in Portland than in Tucson?
- To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $53,000 a year in Portland versus $36,000 in Tucson.
- Which has lower taxes, Portland or Tucson?
- Portland is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Tucson under Arizona's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% 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).