CostIndexUSA

Fresno, CA vs Portland, ME Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

≈ Equal CostCA
Fresno
102.2
overall index
$1,850/mo rent
ME
Portland
101.9
overall index
$2,200/mo rent

Fresno and Portland have nearly identical costs of living.

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+9.9%
Fresno
95.7
Portland
105.2
🛒 Groceries7.6%
Fresno
105.2
Portland
97.2
🚗 Transportation+2.9%
Fresno
105.3
Portland
108.4
🏥 Healthcare+2.8%
Fresno
95.3
Portland
98
Utilities16.4%
Fresno
161
Portland
134.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Portland, ME
$79,800
$200 less needed in Portland

Formula: salary × (101.9 ÷ 102.2) = salary × 0.9971. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Fresno, CA

Median Home Price
$401,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,850
Housing Index
95.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.1×

Portland, ME

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

Portland has 9.9% higher housing costs compared to Fresno.

Income & Job Market

Fresno, CA

Median Household Income
$71,100
Per Capita Income
$40,500
Unemployment Rate
7.4%
Population
542,107
Top Industries
AgricultureHealthcareGovernmentEducationManufacturing

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).

Fresno, CA
3.2×income-to-rent ratio

69% 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.