CostIndexUSA

Palm Bay, FL vs Portland, ME Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableFL
Palm Bay
100
overall index
$1,875/mo rent
ME
Portland
101.9
overall index
$2,200/mo rent

Palm Bay is slightly cheaper than Portland — 1.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Palm Bay, you would need $81,500 in Portland. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing5.8%
Palm Bay
111.7
Portland
105.2
🛒 Groceries+1.0%
Palm Bay
96.2
Portland
97.2
🚗 Transportation+4.4%
Palm Bay
103.8
Portland
108.4
🏥 Healthcare+4.4%
Palm Bay
93.9
Portland
98
Utilities+52.8%
Palm Bay
88.1
Portland
134.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Portland, ME
$81,500
$1,500 more needed in Portland

Formula: salary × (101.9 ÷ 100) = salary × 1.0190. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Palm Bay, FL

Median Home Price
$336,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,875
Housing Index
111.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.9×

Portland, ME

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

Palm Bay has 5.8% lower housing costs compared to Portland.

Income & Job Market

Palm Bay, FL

Median Household Income
$78,600
Per Capita Income
$44,800
Unemployment Rate
5.1%
Population
119,760
Top Industries
AerospaceHealthcareTechnologyManufacturingRetail

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).

Palm Bay, FL
3.5×income-to-rent ratio

71% 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.