What is the cost of living in Caribou, ME?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Caribou has an overall cost of living index of 90, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Maine, Caribou has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Maine's index of 99.
The standard of living in Caribou ranks as #1 most affordable out of the 32 places we measured in Maine. By definition, that implies Caribou ranks as the #31 most expensive place in the Pine Tree State.
For more reading on life in Caribou, check out:
Caribou Cost Of Living Vs. Maine
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Caribou. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Caribou is 104.
The Groceries index in Caribou is 99.
The Health index in Caribou is 55.
The Housing index in Caribou is 107.
The Transportation index in Caribou is 109.
The Utilities index in Caribou is 105.
| Living Expense | Caribou | Maine | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 90 | 99 | 100 |
| Services | 104 | 101 | 100 |
| Groceries | 99 | 100 | 100 |
| Health | 55 | 92 | 100 |
| Housing | 107 | 103 | 100 |
| Transportation | 109 | 109 | 100 |
| Utilities | 105 | 105 | 100 |
Caribou 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 Caribou Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Caribou, 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 Caribou is $156,305.
The Median Rent in Caribou is $757.
The Median Income in Caribou is $53,709.
The Home Value To Income in Caribou is 2.9x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Caribou is 0.17x.
Caribou, ME Costs By Category
Detailed Caribou Services costs vs. Maine
Detailed Caribou Groceries costs vs. Maine
Detailed Caribou Health costs vs. Maine
Detailed Caribou Transportation costs vs. Maine
Caribou SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Caribou
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Caribou. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Chico, CA has a cost of living index of 134, 1.5x Caribou.
La Porte, IN has a cost of living index of 85, 0.9x Caribou.
Oroville, CA has a cost of living index of 112, 1.2x Caribou.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Caribou |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chico, CA | 102,188 | 134 | 1.5x |
| La Porte, IN | 22,449 | 85 | 0.9x |
| Oroville, CA | 19,752 | 112 | 1.2x |
| Susanville, CA | 14,177 | 100 | 1.1x |
| Paradise, CA | 7,392 | 125 | 1.4x |
| Magalia, CA | 7,389 | 114 | 1.3x |
| Thermalito, CA | 6,720 | 109 | 1.2x |
| Durham, CA | 5,340 | 158 | 1.8x |
| Palermo, CA | 5,266 | 119 | 1.3x |
