How expensive is it to live in Maine per month?

Maine costs around $4,025 per person per month for a moderate lifestyle, which works out to $48,300 a year. Housing drives most of that figure: a one-bedroom in Portland averages $1,200 to $1,400, while rural areas drop to $800 to $1,000. Add groceries (running 5 to 10 percent above the US average), utilities (which spike sharply in winter from heating costs), and transport (a car is essential outside Portland) for the full picture. Maine sits in the higher half of US states for cost, close to New York City ($3,975) and noticeably above Los Angeles ($3,000). For lifestyle tiers from Budget through Luxury, see our Maine cost breakdown.