CostIndexUSA

New York, NY vs Portland, ME Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

NY
New York
112.6
overall index
$3,225/mo rent
More AffordableME
Portland
101.9
overall index
$2,200/mo rent

Portland is moderately cheaper than New York — 9.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in New York, you would need $72,400 in Portland. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing29.2%
New York
148.6
Portland
105.2
🛒 Groceries11.9%
New York
110.3
Portland
97.2
🚗 Transportation2.4%
New York
111.1
Portland
108.4
🏥 Healthcare2.5%
New York
100.5
Portland
98
Utilities+6.0%
New York
127
Portland
134.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Portland, ME
$72,400
$7,600 less needed in Portland

Formula: salary × (101.9 ÷ 112.6) = salary × 0.9050. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

New York, NY

Median Home Price
$703,000
Median Monthly Rent
$3,225
Housing Index
148.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.2×

Portland, ME

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

New York has 29.2% lower housing costs compared to Portland.

Income & Job Market

New York, NY

Median Household Income
$95,200
Per Capita Income
$54,300
Unemployment Rate
5.2%
Population
8,336,817
Top Industries
FinanceTechnologyMediaReal EstateHealthcare

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).

New York, NY
2.5×income-to-rent ratio

59% 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.