Cost of Living in Portland, ME

An Overview of Cost of Living in Portland, ME

Knowing the cost of living in Portland allows individuals to create a realistic budget. This helps them understand how their income will cover expenses and whether they need to make financial adjustments. The cost of living in any region can fluctuate due to various factors. To assess the cost of living consistently across different areas, a national average of 100 serves as the basis for the cost of living index. The cost of living in Portland stands at 121, marking it 21% higher than the national average.

If you prioritize affordability when seeking a new place to live, Portland may not be your ideal choice, as it ranks among the most expensive locations in the entire United States. A very small amount of areas exhibit a cost of living at least 20% higher than the national average, and unfortunately, Portland falls into this category, which may not align with your preferences for a budget-friendly living environment.

Housing costs are a major factor in the Portland cost of living index, and they often eat up a big chunk of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, housing expenses for both homeownership and rentals were 52.8% higher than what's typical in an average city. That includes the prices of homes and rents, as well as mortgage rates and insurance.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Portland?

The real experts on a city are its residents. That's why we reached out to 14 locals to get their views on the cost of living in Portland. We surveyed the residents and asked them if they felt like prices were affordable or out of reach. The results were as follows. 14% found it budget-friendly with decreasing prices, while 86% said it's simply not affordable as prices have continued to rise.

Is Portland Affordable?

Is Portland an affordable place to live? It's a good question and one that you might want to ask when considering any new city, as affordability can play a huge role in the decision making process. The cost of living index (which we covered above), as well as housing costs and income levels play a vital role in determining the affordability of an area. The median home price in Portland is 63.9% higher than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 26.9% higher than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Portland has a median household income of $61,695, which is 11.5% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Portland?

Urbanization: Larger, urban hubs brimming with ample amenities and robust employment opportunities often showcase a heightened cost of living. This surge is primarily attributed to the amplified demand for services and increased residential migration, culminating in elevated home prices and elevated rental rates. Conversely, less densely populated rural locales or regions characterized by reduced demand tend to offer a more limited array of amenities and undergo slower job market growth, ultimately yielding a more affordable cost of living.

Housing: A sought-after location with high housing demand often leads to increased property values and rental rates, which can significantly inflate the overall cost of living. Conversely, areas with low housing demand, particularly in less desirable locales, tend to experience the opposite effect, causing prices to drop and contributing to a more affordable cost of living. In Portland, the housing index stands at 52.8% higher than the national average.

Taxes: Regions that impose higher taxes, including sales and income taxes, can contribute to an increased cost of living. Higher taxes for everyday necessities such as clothing, utilities and food inevitably leads to higher expenditures. Additionally, a higher income tax rate can also play a role in elevating the overall cost of living. In Portland, the prevailing sales tax rate starts at 5.5%, and income tax rates kick off at 5.8%.

Where is the Data From?

The Portland cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.