CostIndexUSA

Cleveland, OH vs Portland, ME Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableOH
Cleveland
93.9
overall index
$1,400/mo rent
ME
Portland
101.9
overall index
$2,200/mo rent

Cleveland is moderately cheaper than Portland — 8.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Cleveland, you would need $86,800 in Portland. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+32.5%
Cleveland
79.4
Portland
105.2
🛒 Groceries+3.8%
Cleveland
93.6
Portland
97.2
🚗 Transportation+4.3%
Cleveland
103.9
Portland
108.4
🏥 Healthcare+4.3%
Cleveland
94
Portland
98
Utilities+40.2%
Cleveland
96
Portland
134.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Cleveland to see what you'd need to earn in Portland to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Portland, ME
$86,800
$6,800 more needed in Portland

Formula: salary × (101.9 ÷ 93.9) = salary × 1.0852. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Cleveland, OH

Median Home Price
$236,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,400
Housing Index
79.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.0×

Portland, ME

Median Home Price
$516,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,200
Housing Index
105.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.5×

Portland has 32.5% higher housing costs compared to Cleveland.

Income & Job Market

Cleveland, OH

Median Household Income
$67,600
Per Capita Income
$38,500
Unemployment Rate
4.8%
Population
372,624
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingFinanceTechnologyEducation

Portland, ME

Median Household Income
$92,100
Per Capita Income
$52,500
Unemployment Rate
2.4%
Population
68,408
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationTourismFinanceTechnology

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Cleveland, OH
4.0×income-to-rent ratio

75% of income left after rent (median)

Portland, ME
3.5×income-to-rent ratio

71% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.