CostIndexUSA

Portland, ME vs Scottsdale, AZ Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableME
Portland
101.9
overall index
$2,200/mo rent
AZ
Scottsdale
103.3
overall index
$1,725/mo rent

Portland is slightly cheaper than Scottsdale — 1.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Portland, you would need $81,100 in Scottsdale. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+15.2%
Portland
105.2
Scottsdale
121.2
🛒 Groceries2.3%
Portland
97.2
Scottsdale
95
🚗 Transportation+0.7%
Portland
108.4
Scottsdale
109.2
🏥 Healthcare+0.8%
Portland
98
Scottsdale
98.8
Utilities30.7%
Portland
134.6
Scottsdale
93.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Scottsdale, AZ
$81,100
$1,100 more needed in Scottsdale

Formula: salary × (103.3 ÷ 101.9) = salary × 1.0137. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Portland, ME

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

Scottsdale, AZ

Median Home Price
$442,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,725
Housing Index
121.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.4×

Scottsdale has 15.2% higher housing costs compared to Portland.

Income & Job Market

Portland, ME

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

Scottsdale, AZ

Median Household Income
$85,700
Per Capita Income
$48,800
Unemployment Rate
3.8%
Population
258,069
Top Industries
HealthcareTourismTechnologyFinanceReal Estate

Affordability at a Glance

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

Portland, ME
3.5×income-to-rent ratio

71% of income left after rent (median)

Scottsdale, AZ
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

76% 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.