If you’re thinking about relocating to Maine, it’s important to have a good understanding of how the state’s cost of living compares to your current residence. In this guide, we break down the cost of living in Maine, from housing expenses to food and healthcare costs. We’ll provide data from state cost of living index tools and how Maine ranks in the nation for livability. We’ll also share a handy set of additional online resources to measure and compare the cost of living expenses in different Maine communities. When you’re planning to live in a new state, the cost of living there will be a combination of expenses required to maintain your desired lifestyle. Statista, a leading market data platform, defines “cost of living” as “the monetary cost of goods and services necessary to maintaining a certain standard of living.” This overall cost will vary significantly based on location, even within the state. But the core living expenses you’ll pay for typically include the following categories: However, the costs often extend beyond these basics to cover other expenses, such as: The combination of these elements comprises the primary costs associated with a particular way of living. However, your income and debts will play a major factor in determining your standard of living and how the dollar amounts compare to the costs of basic needs in the Maine city where you live — or want to live. Let’s take a quick look at some ways you can compare your current living cost with what you might experience if you move to Maine. A cost of living index (CLI) monitors how much these basic expenses fluctuate over time in different cities or regions. They provide a way to compare the price of maintaining a certain standard of living. The CLI is calculated by assessing the price of essential goods and services such as housing, food, healthcare, and transportation in different areas. An index is typically standardized, with a base city or region assigned a baseline index value (often set at 100). Other cities or regions are then compared against this benchmark. For example, a Maine or city with a CLI of 120 would signify that living there is 20% more expensive than the base location, while an index of 80 indicates it’s 20% less expensive. A cost of living index will typically break down and score each basic expense by category. Here are separate scores for Maine from the worldpopulationreview.com Cost of Living Index: Using additional data from Forbes, let’s take a closer look at actual dollar amounts and how Maine ranks compared to the other 50 states in the U.S. (Average yearly expenses for housing, food, healthcare, transportation, and taxes) (Total cost of living subtracted from average salary shown in table below.) If you’re planning a move to the Pine Tree State, you may be interested in more than just the cost of living data. Here’s a summary of livability insights for Maine: »See more details about these categories on this U.S. News Maine rankings page. Here are some cost of living index links to research additional Maine living expenses: According to the United Van Lines 47th Annual Movers Study that tracks migrations within the United States, here are the reasons why people are moving into Maine or away to other states. Total inbound: 49.8% Total outbound: 50.2% Below is a collection of handy online tools to help estimate your moving costs and living expenses in Maine — from how much you’ll need to pay a mover to how much your current home might sell for and the proceeds you can expect. With today’s smart technology, you can find a wide variety of tools to help you estimate the cost of paying for a mover or how to find a trusted mover for your relocation to Maine. Some examples include: Cost of living calculators are different from cost of living indexes. These tools, which are typically free, provide a comparison based on income and regional costs for housing, transportation, food, healthcare, and other basic necessities in the two locations you select. For example, if you live in Portsmouth and you want to move to Portland. Some popular cost-of-living calculators include:What makes up the ‘cost of living’ in Maine?
What’s a Maine cost of living index (CLI)?
Maine overall annual cost of living data
Maine cost of living data at a glance
Cost of living factor
Dollar amount
State ranking
Annual salary (average)
$55,960
#29
Transportation costs (annual)
$5,042
#37
Home price (median)
$383,137
#18
Mortgage payments (median monthly)
$2,289
#18
Housing costs (renters and homeowners)
$1,164
#28
Food costs (annual average)
$4,614
#17
Healthcare costs (annual average)
$11,505
#9
Income taxes (average annual)
$4,769
#25
Maine tax rates
Of 50 states, how does Maine rank for livability?
Maine livability rankings
Additional cost of living indexes
Why are people moving to (or away from) Maine?
Primary reasons people are moving
Inbound
Reason for the move
Outbound
25.00%
Retirement
13.00%
5.00%
Health
11.70%
28.70%
Family
32.50%
17.50%
Lifestyle
11.70%
10.00%
Job
15.60%
0.00%
Cost
0.00%
Budgeting for your move to Maine
1. Online move cost estimators
2. Cost of living calculators
3. Living wage and budget calculators
4. Homebuyer calculators
5. Home seller calculators
