United States
Cost of living in Maine
Cost of living in Maine equals the national median exactly at 97.1, placing it 25th nationally alongside Texas. Maine's tax structure includes a progressive income tax with a top rate of 7.15 percent on income above the top bracket threshold, and a standard deduction of $15,000 for single filers in 2025, which phases out above $100,000 in income. The state sales tax sits at 5.5 percent with no local additions, keeping the rate straightforward and uniform. For a state that shares the lowest-cost tier in this dataset, Maine's income tax top rate is notably high, representing one of the steeper progressive structures among comparable-cost states. Portland has transformed from a regional city into a sought-after destination over the past decade, and housing costs there have risen substantially. The rest of the state, including the western mountains, the midcoast, and Aroostook County in the north, offers prices well below the statewide average.
Price level
97.1
US = 100
National rank
25th
of 51, dearest first
Income tax
7.15%
top rate
Sales tax
5.5%
state base rate
What your salary is worth in Maine
Because prices here sit at 97.1 against the national 100, the same paycheck stretches differently than it would elsewhere. These figures hold buying power constant: the salary listed is what you would need in Maine to live as you would on the reference amount in another place.
| Same lifestyle as | $60,000 | $100,000 |
|---|---|---|
| US average | $58,260 | $97,100 |
| California (dearest) | $52,629 | $87,715 |
| Arkansas (cheapest) | $67,043 | $111,738 |
Compare Maine with anywhere in the US
To live the same in California you need
$79,804
to match $70,000 in Maine
Price level, US = 100
The equivalent salary keeps your purchasing power constant: it is your pay scaled by the ratio of the two price levels. Regional Price Parities measure what a fixed basket of goods and services costs locally. Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024.
Maine in context
Maine's cost structure splits sharply between the southern coast and everything else. Portland and its surrounding communities now carry housing prices that rival mid-sized New England cities, pushed up by in-migration from Boston and beyond, and by a strong short-term rental market in tourist areas. Inland and northern Maine represents some of the most affordable real estate in the northeastern United States, with small towns and rural parcels priced far below national norms. The absence of local sales tax additions removes a common source of geographic variation in effective tax rates. The income tax standard deduction is generous at $15,000, but the phase-out above $100,000 of income removes that benefit for higher earners who would otherwise offset the 7.15 percent top rate. Maine suits retirees, remote workers, and those in trades or natural-resource industries who can access the state's lower-cost interior while the coast remains expensive.
The closest state above Maine on price is Pennsylvania at 97.6. Just below sits Texas at 97.1.
Frequently asked questions
Is Maine expensive to live in?
Maine sits at a price level of 97.1 where the US average is 100, so a typical basket of goods and services costs about 3% less than the national norm. That ranks it 25th most expensive of 51 states. Housing is usually the largest single driver of the gap.
What salary do you need in Maine?
To match the buying power of $60,000 earned at the US average, you would need about $58,260 in Maine. The figure scales with the price level: a place dearer than average needs more, a cheaper one needs less. Your own number also depends on housing choice and household size.
How much tax does Maine charge?
Maine applies a top state income-tax rate of 7.15% and a base state sales tax of 5.5%. Three-bracket progressive for 2025 (single thresholds). Single standard deduction $15,000 (phases out above $100,000 income). State sales tax 5.5%; no local sales tax. Local jurisdictions can add their own sales tax on top.
Cost of living in other states
Price levels are Regional Price Parities from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities (SARPP, MARPP), 2024 (public domain). State tax figures are the latest published rates from state revenue departments. All figures are estimates for general comparison and not financial advice; your own costs depend on housing, household size and lifestyle.