CostIndexUSA

Huntsville, AL vs Portland, ME Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableAL
Huntsville
93.1
overall index
$1,400/mo rent
ME
Portland
101.9
overall index
$2,200/mo rent

Huntsville is moderately cheaper than Portland — 9.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Huntsville, you would need $87,600 in Portland. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+35.0%
Huntsville
77.9
Portland
105.2
🛒 Groceries+0.8%
Huntsville
96.4
Portland
97.2
🚗 Transportation+6.8%
Huntsville
101.5
Portland
108.4
🏥 Healthcare+6.6%
Huntsville
91.9
Portland
98
Utilities+60.4%
Huntsville
83.9
Portland
134.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Portland, ME
$87,600
$7,600 more needed in Portland

Formula: salary × (101.9 ÷ 93.1) = salary × 1.0945. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Huntsville, AL

Median Home Price
$307,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,400
Housing Index
77.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.3×

Portland, ME

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

Portland has 35.0% higher housing costs compared to Huntsville.

Income & Job Market

Huntsville, AL

Median Household Income
$84,900
Per Capita Income
$48,400
Unemployment Rate
2.8%
Population
215,006
Top Industries
AerospaceDefenseTechnologyHealthcareEducation

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).

Huntsville, AL
5.1×income-to-rent ratio

80% 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.