What is the cost of living in Brewer, ME?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Brewer has an overall cost of living index of 101, which is 1.0x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Maine, Brewer has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than Maine's index of 99.
The standard of living in Brewer ranks as #14 most affordable out of the 32 places we measured in Maine. By definition, that implies Brewer ranks as the #18 most expensive place in the Pine Tree State.
For more reading on life in Brewer, check out:
Brewer Cost Of Living Vs. Maine
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Brewer. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Brewer is 104.
The Groceries index in Brewer is 99.
The Health index in Brewer is 90.
The Housing index in Brewer is 103.
The Transportation index in Brewer is 111.
The Utilities index in Brewer is 102.
| Living Expense | Brewer | Maine | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 101 | 99 | 100 |
| Services | 104 | 101 | 100 |
| Groceries | 99 | 100 | 100 |
| Health | 90 | 92 | 100 |
| Housing | 103 | 103 | 100 |
| Transportation | 111 | 109 | 100 |
| Utilities | 102 | 105 | 100 |
Brewer Cost Of Living Compared To Maine Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Maine, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Brewer Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Brewer, ME Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Maine, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Brewer is $297,006.
The Median Rent in Brewer is $1,086.
The Median Income in Brewer is $66,613.
The Home Value To Income in Brewer is 4.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Brewer is 0.2x.
Brewer, ME Costs By Category
Detailed Brewer Services costs vs. Maine
Detailed Brewer Groceries costs vs. Maine
Detailed Brewer Health costs vs. Maine
Detailed Brewer Transportation costs vs. Maine
Brewer SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Brewer
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Brewer. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Bangor, ME has a cost of living index of 98, 1.0x Brewer.
Waterville, ME has a cost of living index of 96, 1.0x Brewer.
Orono, ME has a cost of living index of 101, 1.0x Brewer.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Brewer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bangor, ME | 31,938 | 98 | 1.0x |
| Waterville, ME | 17,077 | 96 | 1.0x |
| Orono, ME | 11,151 | 101 | 1.0x |
| Ellsworth, ME | 8,657 | 99 | 1.0x |
| Rockland, ME | 7,035 | 102 | 1.0x |
| Belfast, ME | 6,986 | 104 | 1.0x |
| Skowhegan, ME | 6,662 | 93 | 0.9x |
