CostIndexUSA

Gainesville, FL vs Portland, ME Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableFL
Gainesville
96.7
overall index
$1,650/mo rent
ME
Portland
101.9
overall index
$2,200/mo rent

Gainesville is moderately cheaper than Portland — 5.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Gainesville, you would need $84,300 in Portland. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+13.1%
Gainesville
93
Portland
105.2
🛒 Groceries+1.0%
Gainesville
96.2
Portland
97.2
🚗 Transportation+4.4%
Gainesville
103.8
Portland
108.4
🏥 Healthcare+4.4%
Gainesville
93.9
Portland
98
Utilities+52.6%
Gainesville
88.2
Portland
134.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Portland, ME
$84,300
$4,300 more needed in Portland

Formula: salary × (101.9 ÷ 96.7) = salary × 1.0538. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Gainesville, FL

Median Home Price
$294,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,650
Housing Index
93
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.8×

Portland, ME

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

Portland has 13.1% higher housing costs compared to Gainesville.

Income & Job Market

Gainesville, FL

Median Household Income
$59,300
Per Capita Income
$33,800
Unemployment Rate
4%
Population
140,003
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnologyGovernmentResearch

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).

Gainesville, FL
3.0×income-to-rent ratio

67% 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.