What is the cost of living in Waterville, ME?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Waterville has an overall cost of living index of 96, which is 1.0x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Maine, Waterville has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Maine's index of 99.
The standard of living in Waterville ranks as #5 most affordable out of the 32 places we measured in Maine. By definition, that implies Waterville ranks as the #27 most expensive place in the Pine Tree State.
For more reading on life in Waterville, check out:
Waterville Cost Of Living Vs. Maine
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Waterville. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Waterville is 104.
The Groceries index in Waterville is 100.
The Health index in Waterville is 74.
The Housing index in Waterville is 103.
The Transportation index in Waterville is 107.
The Utilities index in Waterville is 100.
| Living Expense | Waterville | Maine | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 96 | 99 | 100 |
| Services | 104 | 101 | 100 |
| Groceries | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Health | 74 | 92 | 100 |
| Housing | 103 | 103 | 100 |
| Transportation | 107 | 109 | 100 |
| Utilities | 100 | 105 | 100 |
Waterville 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 Waterville Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Waterville, 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 Waterville is $243,116.
The Median Rent in Waterville is $978.
The Median Income in Waterville is $53,580.
The Home Value To Income in Waterville is 4.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Waterville is 0.22x.
| Statistic | Waterville | Maine | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $243,116 | $407,565 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $978 | $1,139 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $53,580 | $74,733 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.5x | 5.5x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.22x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
Waterville, ME Costs By Category
Detailed Waterville Services costs vs. Maine
| Item | Waterville | 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 Waterville Groceries costs vs. Maine
| Item | Waterville | 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 Waterville Health costs vs. Maine
| Item | Waterville | Maine |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $170.67 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $146.5 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $119.58 | $113.29 |
Detailed Waterville Transportation costs vs. Maine
| Item | Waterville | Maine |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.52 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $76.01 | $59.92 |
Detailed Waterville Utilities costs vs. Maine
| Item | Waterville | Maine |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $218.65 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $185.73 | $192.25 |
Waterville SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Waterville
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Waterville. 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 Waterville.
Auburn, ME has a cost of living index of 101, 1.1x Waterville.
Augusta, ME has a cost of living index of 98, 1.0x Waterville.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bangor, ME | 31,938 | 98 | 1.0x |
| Auburn, ME | 24,602 | 101 | 1.1x |
| Augusta, ME | 19,077 | 98 | 1.0x |
| Brunswick, ME | 17,652 | 107 | 1.1x |
| Brewer, ME | 9,652 | 101 | 1.1x |
| Bath, ME | 8,815 | 104 | 1.1x |
| Topsham, ME | 7,271 | 109 | 1.1x |
| Rockland, ME | 7,035 | 102 | 1.1x |
| Belfast, ME | 6,986 | 104 | 1.1x |
| Skowhegan, ME | 6,662 | 93 | 1.0x |
