Portland-South Portland cost of living
Prices in the Portland-South Portland, ME metro area run at 101.9 against a national average of 100, ranking it #58 of 387 metros. Rents there sit at 105.2.
What drives the number
Prices in Portland-South Portland run at 101.9 where the national average is 100, so about 1.9 per cent above the country as a whole. It ranks #58 of 387 metro areas. Against Maine as a whole it is 4.8 points more expensive, which is the usual direction: cities cost more than the states around them.
The parts move together here rather than pulling against each other: goods at 97.2, rents at 105.2, other services at 134.6. That is less common than it sounds. In most places rents sit well away from the other two, and the overall figure is really a housing figure in disguise.
A salary offer here is worth less than the same offer somewhere at 100, and the parity is the arithmetic that says by how much. Divide the offer by 101.9 and multiply by 100 to get the nationally comparable figure.
The vertical line is the national average of 100. Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities, SARPP, 2024.
What the biggest local jobs are really worth
The same pay buys different amounts in different places, so a salary quoted in Portland-South Portland is not comparable to one quoted elsewhere until it is divided by the local parity. These are the occupations that employ the most people here, with the quoted median alongside what that median is worth at national prices.
| Occupation | Employed | Median pay | Worth nationally | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retail Salespersons | 8,460 | $36,890 | $36,202 | $34,580 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 7,740 | $37,980 | $37,272 | $34,900 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 7,390 | $35,150 | $34,495 | $30,480 |
| General and Operations Managers | 6,920 | $104,180 | $102,237 | $102,950 |
| Registered Nurses | 6,660 | $82,830 | $81,286 | $93,600 |
| Cashiers | 6,120 | $34,930 | $34,279 | $31,190 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 4,780 | $45,010 | $44,171 | $33,760 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 4,510 | $38,480 | $37,763 | $37,090 |
Pay from the BLS metro survey, adjusted by dividing by the metro parity of 101.9.
Nearby metro areas
| Metro area | All items | Rents | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bangor | 96.5 | 77.7 | #137 |
| Lewiston-Auburn | 94.7 | 69.0 | #173 |
Portland-South Portland: common questions
Is Portland-South Portland expensive?
Prices are 1.9% above the national average, a parity of 101.9 where the country is 100. It ranks #58 of the 387 metro areas BEA measures. Against Maine as a whole it is 4.8 points more expensive.
What salary do you need in Portland-South Portland?
The median worker there earns $53,280, which buys what $52,287 buys nationally once local prices are taken into account. Comparing a salary offer between cities without this adjustment is comparing nothing useful.
Is housing the reason?
Usually. Rents here are at 105.2 against goods at 97.2. Goods barely vary between American cities because most are shipped and priced nationally; housing varies enormously, and it dominates any cost of living comparison.