CostIndexUSA

Portland, ME vs Spokane, WA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

ME
Portland
101.9
overall index
$2,200/mo rent
More AffordableWA
Spokane
100.3
overall index
$1,475/mo rent

Spokane is slightly cheaper than Portland — 1.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Portland, you would need $78,700 in Spokane. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing7.7%
Portland
105.2
Spokane
97.1
🛒 Groceries+8.0%
Portland
97.2
Spokane
105
🚗 Transportation3.7%
Portland
108.4
Spokane
104.4
🏥 Healthcare3.6%
Portland
98
Spokane
94.5
Utilities32.2%
Portland
134.6
Spokane
91.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Spokane, WA
$78,700
$1,300 less needed in Spokane

Formula: salary × (100.3 ÷ 101.9) = salary × 0.9843. 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×

Spokane, WA

Median Home Price
$406,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,475
Housing Index
97.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
22.9×

Portland has 7.7% lower housing costs compared to Spokane.

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

Spokane, WA

Median Household Income
$72,800
Per Capita Income
$41,500
Unemployment Rate
4.2%
Population
228,989
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationGovernmentManufacturingRetail

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)

Spokane, WA
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

76% 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.