Living Cost Compare
Portland

Maine

$1,620/mo est.

vs
Wilmington

Delaware

$1,230/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 $1,230 in Wilmington, DE. Overall, Wilmington, DE is roughly 24% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Portland, ME, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $76,174 in Portland, ME and $55,269 in Wilmington, DE — about 27% higher in Portland, ME. Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Portland, ME
Wilmington, DE

Rent

Studio
$1,038
$1,103
+6% in Wilmington, DE
1 Bedroom
$1,331
$1,024
+23% in Portland, ME
2 Bedroom
$1,664
$1,213
+27% in Portland, ME
3 Bedroom
$1,919
$1,394
+27% in Portland, ME

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$452,600
$224,500
+50% in Portland, ME

Income

Median Household Income
$76,174
$55,269
+27% in Portland, ME
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$56,960
$54,310
+5% in Portland, ME

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
37.5 yr
37.0 yr
+0.5 yr in Portland, ME
Homeownership
46.7%
46.0%
+0.7 pp in Portland, ME
Bachelor's+ (25+)
59.2%
33.1%
+26.1 pp in Portland, ME
Avg Commute
19.9 min
23.0 min
+3.1 min in Wilmington, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
272.7
1,138.2
+317% in Wilmington, DE
Property Crime
2,513.3
3,182.4
+27% in Wilmington, DE

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
54.9°F
+8.4°F in Wilmington, DE
Annual Precipitation
47.3 in
43.1 in
+4.2 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).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
28.6
19.4
+32% in Portland, ME
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$21.00
$22.51
+7% in Wilmington, DE

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 Wilmington, DE
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 / DE)
5.5%
None
+5.5 pp in ME
Income Tax (top rate)
7.15%
6.60%
+0.6 pp in ME

Portland vs Wilmington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Portland or Wilmington?
Wilmington, DE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,230 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 24% below Portland, ME's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Portland than in Wilmington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $53,000 a year in Portland versus $41,000 in Wilmington.
Which has lower taxes, Portland or Wilmington?
Portland is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Wilmington under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no 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).