Cost of living in Maine
Prices in Maine are 3.0% below the US average (26th highest of 51). A single filer on $75,000 pays $3,385 in state income tax. State sales tax: 5.5%.
Price levels in Maine
| BEA RPP 2024 | Maine | vs US (100) |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 97.0 | −3.0% |
| Goods | 97.2 | −2.8% |
| Housing (rents) | 78.9 | −21.1% |
| Utilities | 135.2 | +35.2% |
| Other services | 103.2 | +3.2% |
Metros in Maine
Metros whose principal city is in Maine. “Left over” = a single renter earning $60,000, after 2026 taxes (including the principal city’s local tax) and modeled costs.
| Metro | Population | Price level | 2-BR FMR | Infant care / wk* | Left over / mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland, ME | 577,635 | 101.9 | $2,353 | $252 | $482 |
| Bangor, ME | 157,967 | 96.5 | $1,722 | $256 | $966 |
| Lewiston, ME | 116,487 | 94.7 | $1,677 | $224 | $1,064 |
*Center-based, DOL 2022 price for the metro’s principal county; a year in brackets marks an older latest-available price. “No data”: DOL publishes no price for that county, and childcare is left out of its budgets.
Taxes in Maine (2026)
| Annual tax | Single, $50,000 | Single, $75,000 | Single, $120,000 | Couple, 2 kids, $120,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | $3,820 | $7,670 | $17,570 | $5,640 |
| Social Security + Medicare | $3,825 | $5,738 | $9,180 | $9,180 |
| Maine income tax | $1,697 | $3,385 | $6,559 | $4,744 |
| Maine payroll taxes | $250 | $375 | $600 | $600 |
| Take-home pay / month | $3,367 | $4,819 | $7,174 | $8,320 |
Annual liability, standard deduction, Child Tax Credit; local income taxes are not included in this state-level table (see each metro). On $75,000, Maine’s income and payroll taxes cost $3,760 a year more than in a state without them (federal taxes are the same: $13,408).
Childcare prices across Maine
| Age band | Center, median county / wk (2022) | Center / yr today* | Home-based / wk (2022) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (under 2) | $225 | $14,280 | $163 |
| Toddler (2) | $203 | $12,883 | $150 |
| Preschool (3–4) | $188 | $11,971 | $146 |
| School-age (5–12) | $140 | $8,899 | $135 |
Center-based infant care ranges from $175 a week in Oxford County to $262 in York County (2022 prices).
DOL National Database of Childcare Prices, 2022; median across 16 counties with 2022 data. *52 weeks × 1.2224 BLS CPI for day care and preschool, 2022 average to 2026-08. Look up a county.
Property taxes by county
Effective rate = Census median real estate taxes ÷ median home value (ACS 2020-2024), metro-area counties.
| County | Median value | Median tax | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Androscoggin County | $252,800 | $2,940 | 1.16% |
| Penobscot County | $214,100 | $2,481 | 1.16% |
| Cumberland County | $451,200 | $4,707 | 1.04% |
| Sagadahoc County | $333,300 | $3,470 | 1.04% |
| York County | $395,700 | $3,787 | 0.96% |
Energy and fuel
EIA: electricity 2025, natural gas 2024, gasoline week ending 2026-10-05.
Who moves to and from Maine
Census state-to-state migration flows (2024 ACS 1-year; people 1 year and over, ± margin of error at 90%). Totals cover moves between states and DC only: 35,281 in, 26,656 out (net +8,625).
- Massachusetts6,723 ±2,509
- New Hampshire4,373 ±1,699
- Florida3,192 ±1,282
- New York1,927 ±803
- California1,784 ±875
- North Carolina1,266 ±711
- Connecticut1,219 ±640
- Alaska1,091 ±975
- Massachusetts6,746 ±2,201
- Florida3,261 ±1,999
- New Hampshire3,115 ±965
- North Carolina2,542 ±1,715
- California1,860 ±1,028
- New York1,326 ±643
- Oklahoma863 ±859
- Vermont726 ±476
Frequently asked questions
Is Maine expensive to live in?+
BEA’s Regional Price Parities put Maine’s overall price level at 97.0 in 2024 (US = 100), the 26th highest of 51 states and DC. Housing is 78.9 and goods 97.2.
Does Maine have a state income tax?+
Yes. A single filer earning $75,000 owes about $3,385 in Maine income tax under 2026 law (4.5% of pay), plus $375 in state payroll taxes.
What is the sales tax in Maine?+
The state rate is 5.5% (as of 2026-10-13); groceries are exempt from the state rate. Local sales taxes can add to this.
What is the most affordable metro in Maine?+
For a single renter earning $60,000, Lewiston, ME leaves the most each month after taxes and modeled costs ($1,064), and Portland, ME the least ($482).