Living Cost Compare
Portland

Maine

$1,620/mo est.

vs
Virginia Beach

Virginia

$1,550/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 $1,550 in Virginia Beach, VA. Overall, Virginia Beach, VA is roughly 4% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Portland, ME, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $76,174 in Portland, ME and $90,685 in Virginia Beach, VA — about 16% higher in Virginia Beach, VA. Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.

Portland, ME
Virginia Beach, VA

Rent

Studio
$1,038
$1,496
+44% in Virginia Beach, VA
1 Bedroom
$1,331
$1,357
+2% in Virginia Beach, VA
2 Bedroom
$1,664
$1,559
+6% in Portland, ME
3 Bedroom
$1,919
$1,857
+3% in Portland, ME

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$452,600
$366,300
+19% in Portland, ME

Income

Median Household Income
$76,174
$90,685
+19% in Virginia Beach, VA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$56,960
$49,430
+13% in Portland, ME

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
37.5 yr
37.4 yr
+0.1 yr in Portland, ME
Homeownership
46.7%
64.9%
+18.2 pp in Virginia Beach, VA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
59.2%
40.4%
+18.8 pp in Portland, ME
Avg Commute
19.9 min
23.2 min
+3.3 min in Virginia Beach, VA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
272.7
96.9
+64% in Portland, ME
Property Crime
2,513.3
1,664.9
+34% in Portland, ME

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
59.9°F
+13.4°F in Virginia Beach, VA
Annual Precipitation
47.3 in
44.3 in
+2.9 in in Portland, ME

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.86/gal
about equal

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
28.6
17.6
+38% in Portland, ME
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$21.00
$23.66
+13% in Virginia Beach, VA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Portland, ME
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.75
+9% in Portland, ME
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Virginia Beach, VA
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.45
+6% in Portland, ME
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$1.90
+13% in Portland, ME
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.62
+11% in Portland, ME

Average prices — Northeast vs South (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (ME / VA)
5.5%
5.3%
+0.2 pp in ME
Income Tax (top rate)
7.15%
5.75%
+1.4 pp in ME

Portland vs Virginia Beach — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Portland or Virginia Beach?
Virginia Beach, VA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,550 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Portland, ME's $1,620, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Portland than in Virginia Beach?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $53,000 a year in Portland versus $54,000 in Virginia Beach.
Which has lower taxes, Portland or Virginia Beach?
Portland is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Virginia Beach under Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% 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).