Cost of Living in Maine

By Kenny Zhu

(Last Updated – 04/2025)

With beautiful coastal views and some of the best seafood in the country, Maine’s a popular destination.

From the scenic overlooks by the sea at Acadia National Park to the lush forests of the Pequawket Trail, Maine’s picturesque landscapes hold allure.

With just under 1.4 million residents, the Pine Tree State is tucked away in the northeasternmost corner of the United States and just may be one the country’s best-kept secrets, especially if you enjoy comfortable summers and freezing, snowy winters.

Let’s look further into the cost of living in Maine.

What’s the Average Cost of Living in Maine?

Average Cost of Living in Maine: $60,250 per year

Maine has the lowest cost of living in New England, beating out all five of its neighbors, including Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Vermont, according to recent Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC) data. The closest contender in terms of value was Rhode Island, followed by New Hampshire, which each fell just short of their northern neighbor.

How does this look in terms of everyday costs? The average annual cost of living in Maine is $60,250, according to Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) data for 2024. The breakdown of those costs is as follows:

That translates to nearly $5,021 per month, per person.

Housing Costs in Maine

Average Housing Costs in Maine: $937 to $1,640 per month

The median sales price of homes in Maine was $393,890 in March 2025 — slightly more than the national average home value in the U.S., which is $357,138, according to Zillow.

Here are median monthly mortgage payment and rental costs for Maine, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

•  Median monthly mortgage cost: $1,657

•  Median studio rent: $937

•  Median one-bedroom rent: $969

•  Median two-bedroom rent: $1,271

•  Median three-bedroom rent: $1,424

•  Median four-bedroom rent: $1,640

•  Median gross rent: $1,189

As of February 2025, home prices across Maine rose by more than 5% year-over-year, while the number of homes for sale rose by almost 20%, Redfin found. There is still high demand for Maine homes, with data showing 25.1% of homes in Maine sold above list price and only 14.6% of homes had price drops – but both those trends are down slightly from the same time last year.

The Portland, Maine area has been especially popular. A typical home there is now a significant amount more than as a similar property in Bangor, Augusta, or Lewiston, per March 2025 Zillow data.

Utility Costs in Maine

Average Utility Costs in Maine: $408 per month

Maine’s deep winters are no joke, and keeping a lid on utility costs is key to making it through the most frigid months.

Here are Maine’s average monthly utility costs. Your results may vary according to your property and geography.

Sources: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Sales, Revenue, and Average Price; Statista.com, “Average monthly residential utility costs in the United States, by state”; DoxoInsights, U.S. Cable & Internet Market Size and Household Spending Report; and Rentcafe.com, What Is the Average Water Bill?

Groceries & Food

Average Grocery & Food Costs in New England: $440 per person, per month

When it comes to groceries, Maine is more affordable when it comes to buying food within the New England region. Portland, Maine, was ranked the third least expensive city for groceries among the nine major New England cities surveyed.

However, this is all relative, as grocery shopping in New England is still slightly more expensive than the national average.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis lists the average Mainer’s annual outlay for nonrestaurant food and beverages as $5,279, which translates to around $440 per month for the average individual.

The Council for Community and Economic Research ranks grocery costs for major metropolitan areas in the United States. Like most other expenses, New England scored above average in terms of grocery costs, as per 2024 data.

Transportation

Average Transportation Costs in Maine: $10,329 to $19,220 per year

As any true Mainer knows, distance in Maine is measured in time, not miles. Locking down transportation costs is especially important, given the hours that Maine’s residents spend on the road getting from point A to point B.

Residents actually fare well in this category, as Maine has some of the lowest transportation costs in the nation. In fact, U.S. News & World Report ranked Maine as the cheapest state for car insurance in the country.

Here are average yearly transportation costs in Maine, according to MIT’s Living Wage Calculator for 2025.

Health Care

Average Health Care Costs in Maine: $10,062 per person, per year

Maine falls in the middle of the pack when it comes to health care costs, according to a national study by U.S. News that ranks states on health care accessibility and affordability.

The average Mainer spends $10,062 a year on health care, according to the 2024 Bureau of Economic Analysis Personal Consumption Expenditures report. Of course the figures can vary widely, given people’s differing needs and coverage.

Maine residents looking for affordable health insurance can compare plans at CoverME.gov.

Child Care

Average Child Care Costs in Maine: $973 to $1,622 or more per child, per month

Child care costs are a significant portion of a family’s monthly budget, but the expenses can vary depending on the age of the child and type of care.

Families seeking trusted child care providers, or who want to learn about where they can get help paying for child care, can find out more at ChildCareChoices.me.

Here are the average monthly child care costs in Maine, according to the most recent data from CostofChildCare.org.

Taxes

Highest Marginal Tax Rate in Maine: 7.15%

Maine’s highest marginal tax rate is 7.15%, says the Tax Foundation. Like most U.S. states, Maine has a graduated income tax structure.

Maine also has a state sales tax of 5.5%, while homeowners currently pay an average effective annual property tax of 1.1% at the state level.

Maine’s income taxes are around average, compared with New England and to the nation as a whole. While it’s certainly no state income-tax haven like Florida or Nevada, Maine is still a far cry from states with high tax burdens, like California, which has a top individual income tax bracket of 13.3%.

Miscellaneous Costs

Now that we’re done worrying about statistics, let’s check out what locals pay for food and fun in the Pine Tree State. (Prices are accurate as of March 2025.)

•  Tuck in to a Maine lobster roll at The Clam Shack in Kennebunkport: $31.95

•  Enjoy New England clam chowder at Gilbert’s Chowder House in Portland: $7.25 to $16.95

•  Pay for one private vehicle entrance pass to Acadia National Park: $35 for seven days. Timed reservation for the Cadillac Summit Road (May-Oct), $6

•  Grab tickets for York’s Wild Kingdom Zoo: $18 (adults) and $11.50 (kids) (Ages 2 and younger are free)

•  Buy a single-day lift ticket at Sugarloaf Mountain: Passes start at $72, depending on day of the week

•  Take the historical 30-minute brewery tour at Allagash Brewery in Portland: $10 for designated drivers (no tasting) and $20 for visitors age 21+ (includes tasting)

Having lobster for dinner every night might not be the best financial decision, but if that’s your choice, Maine might be the best place to do it. In 2023, Maine fishermen harvested nearly 94 million pounds of lobster, per data from the Maine Department of Marine Resources. That was actually a 15% decrease in harvest from the year before, but netted greater prices at the dock, due to the higher value of lobster.

Did you know that Maine has the second most craft breweries per capita of any state in the United States, after Vermont? As of 2023, Maine had 156 licensed craft beer breweries. That’s not surprising when the state’s roster boasts national hoppy heavy hitters like Allagash and Shipyard Brewing Co.

Scenic drives and hikes are free. So is gazing at the state’s 65 lighthouses and, in September, exploring over two dozen historic beacons during Maine Open Lighthouse Day.

Recommended: What Are the Average Monthly Expenses for One Person?

How Much Money Do You Need to Live Comfortably in Maine?

According to MIT’s Living Wage calculator, an average single, childless individual would need an annual salary of $48,298 to make do. In other words, a living wage in Maine is seen as $23.22 an hour, assuming you work 40 hours a week for 52 weeks a year.

In general, Maine ranks near the middle in terms of affordability when compared with the rest of the nation. The state ranks 29th on U.S. News and World Report’s Affordability Ranking. Other New England states ranked far worse in terms of affordability, however, with Vermont coming in at 32, Rhode Island at 38, Connecticut at 43, New Hampshire at 44, and Massachusetts at 46.

What City Has the Lowest Cost of Living in New England?

To compare the cost of living in Maine, let’s take a gander at the cities with the lowest cost of living in New England, according to the Council for Community and Economic Research’s Cost of Living Index for 2024.