Cost of Living Comparison Between Portland, ME and Seattle, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Portland, ME and Seattle, WA

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Portland, ME is 14% cheaper than Seattle, WA without rent, and 17.2% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Portland, ME is 10.5% cheaper than Seattle, WA without rent, and 18.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Portland, ME
Seattle, WA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$30.34 $30.34
$25.11 $25.11
20.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$122 $122
$118 $118
2.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.85 $11.85
$13.84 $13.84
-14.38%
Cappuccino
$6.32 $6.32
$5.8 $5.8
8.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 $2.78
$2.95 $2.95
-5.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39 $2.39
$2.51 $2.51
-4.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.33 $6.33
$7.81 $7.81
-18.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.79 $7.79
$7.84 $7.84
-0.64%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Portland, ME
Seattle, WA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.99 $0.99
$1.34 $1.34
-26.12%
White Bread (500g)
$3.68 $3.68
$4.98 $4.98
-26.10%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$7.57 $7.57
$5.35 $5.35
41.50%
Eggs
$4.31 $4.31
$6.91 $6.91
-37.63%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.75 $16.75
$24.8 $24.8
-32.46%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.85 $10.85
$15.74 $15.74
-31.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.43 $14.43
$20.84 $20.84
-30.76%
Apples (1kg)
$3.44 $3.44
$6.05 $6.05
-43.14%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 $1.72
$2.75 $2.75
-37.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.87 $5.87
$5.47 $5.47
7.31%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.05 $6.05
$6.45 $6.45
-6.20%
Potato (1kg)
$7.45 $7.45
$3.11 $3.11
139.55%
Onion (1kg)
$3.62 $3.62
$3.69 $3.69
-1.90%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.36 $2.36
$2.78 $2.78
-15.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.12 $2.12
$2.52 $2.52
-15.87%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.32 $12.32
$11.64 $11.64
5.84%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.04 $15.04
$17.15 $17.15
-12.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.93 $1.93
$2.94 $2.94
-34.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96 $2.96
$4.19 $4.19
-29.36%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Portland, ME
Seattle, WA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.05 $2.05
$2.8 $2.8
-26.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$60.7 $60.7
$101 $101
-39.79%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.94 $1.94
$2.68 $2.68
-27.61%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.65 $1.65
3.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.74 $28.74
$30.13 $30.13
-4.61%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.86 $0.86
$1.16 $1.16
-25.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.2K $29.2K
$33.3K $33.3K
-12.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.4K $25.4K
$26.3K $26.3K
-3.45%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Portland, ME
Seattle, WA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$208 $208
$271 $271
-23.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$55 $55
$61.8 $61.8
-11.02%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$81 $81
$75.2 $75.2
7.78%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Portland, ME
Seattle, WA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$65.6 $65.6
$78.4 $78.4
-16.36%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.47 $12.47
$41.04 $41.04
-69.62%
Cinema Ticket
$14.3 $14.3
$15.89 $15.89
-10.01%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Portland, ME
Seattle, WA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,254 $1,254
$2,248 $2,248
-44.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$33.5K $33.5K
$29K $29K
15.53%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Portland, ME
Seattle, WA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.3 $51.3
$69.5 $69.5
-26.30%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$74.6 $74.6
$52.5 $52.5
42.00%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$120 $120
$120 $120
0.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$132 $132
$142 $142
-7.18%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Portland, ME
Seattle, WA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,975 $1,975
$2,376 $2,376
-16.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,463 $1,463
$1,829 $1,829
-20.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,413 $3,413
$4,702 $4,702
-27.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,489 $2,489
$3,474 $3,474
-28.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,473 $4,473
$6,928 $6,928
-35.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,006 $4,006
$5,224 $5,224
-23.32%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Portland, ME
Seattle, WA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,475 $4,475
$6,473 $6,473
-30.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.71
6.42
4.52%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Portland, ME: October 28, 2025

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 29, 2025

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