Cost of Living Comparison Between Augusta, ME and Mackay Cost of Living Comparison Between Augusta, ME and Mackay

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,242 in Augusta, ME versus $2,060 in Mackay.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,214 in Augusta, ME versus $3,193 in Mackay.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,187 in Augusta, ME versus $4,326 in Mackay.

Living in Augusta, ME is roughly 9% more expensive than Mackay, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Augusta, ME 67% above, Mackay 54% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.90 $19.90

$16.09 A$22.53

23.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.9 $74.9

$70.7 A$98.9

6.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.53 $7.53

$11.93 A$16.70

-36.88%

Cappuccino

$5.07 $5.07

$3.92 A$5.49

29.34%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 $2.38

$3.04 A$4.26

-21.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.86 $1.86

$2.54 A$3.56

-26.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.13 $5.13

$6.65 A$9.30

-22.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.10 $6.10

$6.57 A$9.19

-7.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.15 $1.15

$1.32 A$1.85

-12.88%

White Bread (500g)

$3.59 $3.59

$2.13 A$2.98

68.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$2.54 A$3.56

-30.31%

Eggs

$3.65 $3.65

$5.10 A$7.14

-28.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.71 $16.71

$8.82 A$12.35

89.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.33 $12.33

$8.22 A$11.51

50.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.98 $18.98

$14.79 A$20.70

28.33%

Apples (1kg)

$4.43 $4.43

$3.37 A$4.71

31.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.27 $1.27

$2.76 A$3.86

-53.99%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.16 $3.16

$2.95 A$4.12

7.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.51 $6.51

$4.80 A$6.71

35.63%

Potato (1kg)

$2.22 $2.22

$1.74 A$2.44

27.59%

Onion (1kg)

$3.32 $3.32

$1.63 A$2.28

103.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.86 $2.86

$1.86 A$2.60

53.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 $1.54

$2.18 A$3.05

-29.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.02 $9.02

$38.75 A$54.2

-76.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.93 $14.93

$8.67 A$12.14

72.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 $2.87

$4.77 A$6.67

-39.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 $1.95

$5.66 A$7.92

-65.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.22 A$3.11

-12.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$66.0 A$92.4

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.54 $2.54

$5.49 A$7.69

-53.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.23 $1.23

$1.83 A$2.56

-32.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.90 $27.90

$31.98 A$44.78

-12.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$1.20 A$1.68

-25.00%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$29.7K $29.7K

$37.4K A$52.4K

-20.69%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.5K $25.5K

$29.0K A$40.6K

-12.32%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$197 $197

$186 A$261

5.96%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$59.0 $59.0

$26.73 A$37.43

120.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$78.2 $78.2

$72.3 A$101

8.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.20 $30.20

$74.9 A$105

-59.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.60 A$27.44

Cinema Ticket

$12.77 $12.77

$15.37 A$21.52

-16.92%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$2,796 $2,796

$1,755 A$2,457

59.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$27.1K $27.1K

$12.1K A$16.9K

124.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.7 $65.7

$67.4 A$94.3

-2.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.31 $44.31

$46.86 A$65.6

-5.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.3 $84.3

$113 A$158

-25.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$97.9 A$137

51.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,051 $1,051

$915 A$1,280

14.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$945 $945

$797 A$1,116

18.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,603 $1,603

$1,724 A$2,414

-7.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,447 $1,447

$1,645 A$2,303

-12.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,342 $2,342

$6,180 A$8,652

-62.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,359 $2,359

$5,005 A$7,007

-52.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,934 $1,934

$5,704 A$7,986

-66.10%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.43

5.7

12.81%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Augusta, ME: April 21, 2026

Last update for Mackay: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,051 in Augusta, ME and $915 in Mackay. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mackay pays 195% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $75 in Augusta, ME vs $71 in Mackay for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $404 vs $341 per month, with Mackay cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Augusta, ME vs Mackay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Augusta, ME and Mackay differ by about 9% in total monthly costs ($2,242 vs $2,060 including rent). Mackay is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Mackay earns 195% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,051 in Augusta, ME versus $915 in Mackay. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,796 in Augusta, ME versus $1,755 in Mackay. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Mackay – a meal for two runs $71.0 versus $75.0 in Augusta, ME. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,060 in Mackay versus $2,242 in Augusta, ME, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Mackay but tight or insufficient in Augusta, ME. The gap between the two cities makes Mackay the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Augusta, ME and Mackay are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Mackay gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Augusta, ME. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.