Cost of Living in Portland, ME
Housing is the most significant expense for most American households. The cost of living in a certain city takes into account both the price of rent and the price of a home. The average monthly rent in Portland is $1,864, while home prices circle around $527,846.
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In Portland, energy bills cost around $225.40 per month.
Food is the most important necessity and its cost varies around the country. This section includes the prices of everyday foods such as produce, meat and dairy. A bottle of milk costs about $4.74 in Portland, a dozen eggs go for around $3.46 and a pound of potatoes circles around $4.83.
The benchmark for this category is based on the prices of family doctor visits and specialized services such as optometry. In Portland, an optometry check-up costs around $171.63, while a dentist appointment is priced $120.69 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $3.45 in Portland, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $75.84.
The cost of clothing tells you how much more or less money you need to buy basic items such as jeans, shirts or slacks in a new city. A men's shirt costs around $39.26 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $31.85.
The cost of entertainment and everyday services is based on common expenses in each category. For a movie ticket in Portland, you should budget around $12.95 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $28.00, while dry cleaning costs about $19.63.
The cost of living also takes median household income into account, so you can estimate how much more or less you could be earning in a new city by comparing it to the income in your current area. In Portland, the median household income is $71,498.