South Portland, ME Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

Cost Of Living In South Portland, ME Summary

Cost of living in South Portland research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means South Portland is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in Maine, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in South Portland is 120, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in South Portland is 1.2x higher than the national average.

  • South Portland ranks as the #25 cheapest in Maine out of 30.

  • South Portland ranks as the #4,411 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in South Portland is $512,730.

  • The median income in South Portland is $84,563.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
120
South Portland's Overall Cost Of Living
1.2x
Higher Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in South Portland, ME?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, South Portland has an overall cost of living index of 120, which is 1.2x higher than the national index of 100.

Compared to Maine, South Portland has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than Maine's index of 101.

The standard of living in South Portland ranks as #25 most affordable out of the 30 places we measured in Maine. By definition, that implies South Portland ranks as the #5 most expensive place in the Pine Tree State.

For more reading on life in South Portland, check out:

25 out of 30
In Maine
4,411 out of 6,489
In America

South Portland Cost Of Living Vs. Maine

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in South Portland. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in South Portland is 111.

  • The Groceries index in South Portland is 103.

  • The Health index in South Portland is 105.

  • The Housing index in South Portland is 149.

  • The Transportation index in South Portland is 109.

  • The Utilities index in South Portland is 105.

Living Expense South Portland Maine National Average
Overall 120 101 100
Services 111 110 100
Groceries 103 103 100
Health 105 104 100
Housing 149 90 100
Transportation 109 108 100
Utilities 105 105 100
For more reading on cost of living around Maine, check out:
South Portland Cost of Living Vs. ME

South Portland, 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 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in South Portland is $512,730.

  • The Median Rent in South Portland is $1,648.

  • The Median Income in South Portland is $84,563.

  • The Home Value To Income in South Portland is 6.1x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in South Portland is 0.23x.

Statistic South Portland Maine United States
Median Home Value $512,730 $410,916 $303,400
Median Rent $1,648 $1,084 $1,348
Median Income $84,563 $71,773 $78,538
Home Value To Income 6.1x 5.7x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.23x 0.18x 0.21x
$512,730
Median Home Value
$1,648
Median Rent
$84,563
Median Income

South Portland, ME Costs By Category

Detailed South Portland Services Costs Vs. Maine

Item South Portland Maine
Shampoo $1.17 $1.28
Movie $13.07 $12.13
Bowling $17.76 $18
Haircut $28.67 $24.26
Beauty Salon $53.03 $45.56

Detailed South Portland Groceries Costs Vs. Maine

Item South Portland Maine
Ground Beef $5.41 $5.84
Fried Chicken $1.43 $1.57
Milk $4.75 $4.67
Potatoes $5.0 $4.93
Pizza $11.93 $12.09
Beer $10.22 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.69 $3.7

Detailed South Portland Health Costs Vs. Maine

Item South Portland Maine
Optometrist $170.67 $125.68
Doctor $146.5 $135.78
Dentist $119.58 $113.29

Detailed South Portland Transportation Costs Vs. Maine

Item South Portland Maine
Gasoline $3.52 $3.46
Tire Balancing $76.01 $59.92

Detailed South Portland Utilities Costs Vs. Maine

Item South Portland Maine
All Electricity $218.65 $193.99
Phone $185.73 $192.25

South Portland SnackAbility

8.5
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
8/10
Housing
8.5
Affordability
5
Diversity
6
Safety
8
Amenities
9
Education
8.5
Commute
9

Cost Of Living In Cities Around South Portland

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around South Portland. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Portland, ME has a cost of living index of 122, 1.0x South Portland.

  • Saco, ME has a cost of living index of 117, 1.0x South Portland.

  • Westbrook, ME has a cost of living index of 112, 0.9x South Portland.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. South Portland
Portland, ME 68,505 122 1.0x
Saco, ME 20,636 117 1.0x
Westbrook, ME 20,484 112 0.9x
Old Orchard Beach, ME 9,150 109 0.9x
Gorham, ME 7,365 121 1.0x
Yarmouth, ME 6,293 128 1.1x

Articles About Maine

Enjoy The Snack?