CostIndexUSA

Portland, ME vs Prescott, AZ Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

ME
Portland
101.9
overall index
$2,200/mo rent
More AffordableAZ
Prescott
98.3
overall index
$1,475/mo rent

Prescott is slightly cheaper than Portland — 3.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Portland, you would need $77,200 in Prescott. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing6.1%
Portland
105.2
Prescott
98.8
🛒 Groceries1.0%
Portland
97.2
Prescott
96.2
🚗 Transportation3.3%
Portland
108.4
Prescott
104.8
🏥 Healthcare3.3%
Portland
98
Prescott
94.8
Utilities32.0%
Portland
134.6
Prescott
91.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Prescott, AZ
$77,200
$2,800 less needed in Prescott

Formula: salary × (98.3 ÷ 101.9) = salary × 0.9647. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Portland, ME

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

Prescott, AZ

Median Home Price
$405,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,475
Housing Index
98.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
22.9×

Portland has 6.1% lower housing costs compared to Prescott.

Income & Job Market

Portland, ME

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

Prescott, AZ

Median Household Income
$67,200
Per Capita Income
$38,300
Unemployment Rate
4.2%
Population
45,827
Top Industries
HealthcareTourismRetailGovernmentReal Estate

Affordability at a Glance

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

Portland, ME
3.5×income-to-rent ratio

71% of income left after rent (median)

Prescott, AZ
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

74% 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.