CostIndexUSA

Lakeland, FL vs Portland, ME Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableFL
Lakeland
97.1
overall index
$1,825/mo rent
ME
Portland
101.9
overall index
$2,200/mo rent

Lakeland is slightly cheaper than Portland — 4.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Lakeland, you would need $84,000 in Portland. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+9.7%
Lakeland
95.9
Portland
105.2
🛒 Groceries+1.0%
Lakeland
96.2
Portland
97.2
🚗 Transportation+4.4%
Lakeland
103.8
Portland
108.4
🏥 Healthcare+4.4%
Lakeland
93.9
Portland
98
Utilities+54.9%
Lakeland
86.9
Portland
134.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Portland, ME
$84,000
$4,000 more needed in Portland

Formula: salary × (101.9 ÷ 97.1) = salary × 1.0494. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Lakeland, FL

Median Home Price
$295,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,825
Housing Index
95.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
13.5×

Portland, ME

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

Portland has 9.7% higher housing costs compared to Lakeland.

Income & Job Market

Lakeland, FL

Median Household Income
$66,900
Per Capita Income
$38,100
Unemployment Rate
3.7%
Population
119,428
Top Industries
HealthcareLogisticsManufacturingRetailAgriculture

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).

Lakeland, FL
3.1×income-to-rent ratio

67% 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.