Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Portland, ME Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Portland, ME

😐 Solo nomad: New York, NY is 11.8% more expensive than Portland, ME without rent, and 44.8% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: New York, NY is 16.1% more expensive than Portland, ME without rent, and 59.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
New York, NY
Portland, ME
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$30.14 $30.14
$29.63 $29.63
1.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$147 $147
$118 $118
24.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.62 $12.62
$11.96 $11.96
5.52%
Cappuccino
$6.00 $6.00
$6.13 $6.13
-2.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.35 $3.35
$2.67 $2.67
25.47%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 $2.58
$2.41 $2.41
7.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.18 $8.18
$6.07 $6.07
34.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$11.99 $11.99
$7.92 $7.92
51.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
New York, NY
Portland, ME
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.61 $1.61
$0.97 $0.97
65.98%
White Bread (500g)
$5.03 $5.03
$3.72 $3.72
35.22%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$8.40 $8.40
$7.59 $7.59
10.67%
Eggs
$7.10 $7.10
$4.32 $4.32
64.35%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.38 $17.38
$16.20 $16.20
7.28%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.18 $16.18
$10.69 $10.69
51.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.48 $20.48
$14.77 $14.77
38.66%
Apples (1kg)
$7.36 $7.36
$3.31 $3.31
122.36%
Banana (1kg)
$2.56 $2.56
$1.70 $1.70
50.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.71 $5.71
$6.05 $6.05
-5.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.24 $6.24
$5.98 $5.98
4.35%
Potato (1kg)
$3.87 $3.87
$7.19 $7.19
-46.18%
Onion (1kg)
$4.11 $4.11
$3.65 $3.65
12.60%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.03 $3.03
$2.47 $2.47
22.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.55 $2.55
$2.12 $2.12
20.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$19.07 $19.07
$12.74 $12.74
49.69%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.66 $19.66
$14.90 $14.90
31.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.98 $2.98
$1.89 $1.89
57.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75 $3.75
$3.13 $3.13
19.81%
🚌 Getting Around
New York, NY
Portland, ME
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.94 $2.94
$1.96 $1.96
50.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$131 $131
$59.3 $59.3
120.23%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.07 $5.07
$2.04 $2.04
148.53%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.19 $2.19
$1.77 $1.77
23.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.49 $41.49
$29.00 $29.00
43.07%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.98 $0.98
$0.92 $0.92
6.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K $34.5K
$29.7K $29.7K
16.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.3K $28.3K
$25.3K $25.3K
11.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
New York, NY
Portland, ME
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$184 $184
$214 $214
-13.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.0 $59.0
$54.4 $54.4
8.28%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.9 $61.9
$82.4 $82.4
-24.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
New York, NY
Portland, ME
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$141 $141
$65.0 $65.0
116.13%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$65.3 $65.3
$12.61 $12.61
417.61%
Cinema Ticket
$20.13 $20.13
$14.57 $14.57
38.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
New York, NY
Portland, ME
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,191 $3,191
$1,246 $1,246
156.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$57.5K $57.5K
$33.3K $33.3K
72.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
New York, NY
Portland, ME
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.2 $67.2
$49.90 $49.90
34.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.98 $47.98
$73.6 $73.6
-34.79%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$111 $111
$123 $123
-9.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$170 $170
$135 $135
26.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
New York, NY
Portland, ME
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,207 $4,207
$2,036 $2,036
106.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,717 $2,717
$1,456 $1,456
86.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$8,382 $8,382
$3,344 $3,344
150.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$5,127 $5,127
$2,526 $2,526
102.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$19.5K $19.5K
$4,205 $4,205
364.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$8,862 $8,862
$4,000 $4,000
121.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
New York, NY
Portland, ME
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,228 $5,228
$4,519 $4,519
15.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.44
6.71
-4.02%

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

Last update for New York, NY: April 11, 2026

Last update for Portland, ME: April 12, 2026

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

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