CostIndexUSA

Cincinnati, OH vs Portland, ME Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableOH
Cincinnati
95.4
overall index
$1,525/mo rent
ME
Portland
101.9
overall index
$2,200/mo rent

Cincinnati is moderately cheaper than Portland — 6.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Cincinnati, you would need $85,400 in Portland. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+20.1%
Cincinnati
87.6
Portland
105.2
🛒 Groceries+3.6%
Cincinnati
93.8
Portland
97.2
🚗 Transportation+4.2%
Cincinnati
104
Portland
108.4
🏥 Healthcare+4.1%
Cincinnati
94.1
Portland
98
Utilities+47.9%
Cincinnati
91
Portland
134.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Cincinnati to see what you'd need to earn in Portland to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Portland, ME
$85,400
$5,400 more needed in Portland

Formula: salary × (101.9 ÷ 95.4) = salary × 1.0681. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Cincinnati, OH

Median Home Price
$296,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,525
Housing Index
87.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.2×

Portland, ME

Median Home Price
$516,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,200
Housing Index
105.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.5×

Portland has 20.1% higher housing costs compared to Cincinnati.

Income & Job Market

Cincinnati, OH

Median Household Income
$77,800
Per Capita Income
$44,300
Unemployment Rate
3.6%
Population
309,317
Top Industries
FinanceManufacturingHealthcareRetailTechnology

Portland, ME

Median Household Income
$92,100
Per Capita Income
$52,500
Unemployment Rate
2.4%
Population
68,408
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationTourismFinanceTechnology

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Cincinnati, OH
4.3×income-to-rent ratio

76% of income left after rent (median)

Portland, ME
3.5×income-to-rent ratio

71% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.