What is the cost of living in Orono, ME?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Orono has an overall cost of living index of 101, which is 1.0x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Maine, Orono has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than Maine's index of 99.
The standard of living in Orono ranks as #14 most affordable out of the 32 places we measured in Maine. By definition, that implies Orono ranks as the #18 most expensive place in the Pine Tree State.
For more reading on life in Orono, check out:
Orono Cost Of Living Vs. Maine
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Orono. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Orono is 101.
The Groceries index in Orono is 102.
The Health index in Orono is 96.
The Housing index in Orono is 107.
The Transportation index in Orono is 110.
The Utilities index in Orono is 102.
| Living Expense | Orono | Maine | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 101 | 99 | 100 |
| Services | 101 | 101 | 100 |
| Groceries | 102 | 100 | 100 |
| Health | 96 | 92 | 100 |
| Housing | 107 | 103 | 100 |
| Transportation | 110 | 109 | 100 |
| Utilities | 102 | 105 | 100 |
Orono 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 Orono Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Orono, 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 Orono is $299,515.
The Median Rent in Orono is $1,280.
The Median Income in Orono is $59,784.
The Home Value To Income in Orono is 5.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Orono is 0.26x.
Orono, ME Costs By Category
Detailed Orono Services costs vs. Maine
Detailed Orono Groceries costs vs. Maine
Detailed Orono Health costs vs. Maine
Detailed Orono Transportation costs vs. Maine
Orono SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Orono
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Orono. 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 Orono.
Brewer, ME has a cost of living index of 101, 1.0x Orono.
Ellsworth, ME has a cost of living index of 99, 1.0x Orono.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Orono |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bangor, ME | 31,938 | 98 | 1.0x |
| Brewer, ME | 9,652 | 101 | 1.0x |
| Ellsworth, ME | 8,657 | 99 | 1.0x |
| Belfast, ME | 6,986 | 104 | 1.0x |
