City comparison
Miami, FL vs Portland, ME
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Miami, FL are 12.1% higher than in Portland, ME. Someone earning $100,000 in Portland, ME would need about $112,100 in Miami, FL to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,995 a month in Miami, FL versus $1,658 in Portland, ME. On $100,000, that's 30% of take-home pay in Miami, FL and 27% in Portland, ME.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $5,654 a year higher in Portland, ME than in Miami, FL.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +6.3% moving from Miami, FL to Portland, ME ($113,356 → $120,548), while prices change by −10.8%. Net effect of the transfer: +19.2% in real buying power.
- Miami, FL: price level 114.2 (much pricier)
- Portland, ME: price level 101.9 (about average)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Miami, FL | Portland, ME | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 114.2 | 101.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $89,228 in Portland | $112,073 in Miami |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,995/mo | $1,658/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $73,526 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (FL) | $5,654 (ME) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 30% | 27% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,640 | $56,960 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale, FL | Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT |
Rent areas: Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall, FL HUD Metro FMR Area and Portland, ME HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL and Portland-South Portland, ME.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Miami | Portland |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 155.6 | 105.2 |
| Goods | 103.6 | 97.2 |
| Utilities | 97.2 | 134.6 |
| Other services | 109.1 | 103.2 |
| Overall | 114.2 | 101.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Miami, FL → Portland, ME
Same pay goes further
Buying power +12.1%; rent takes 27% of take-home; state tax +$5,654/yr.
97 Strong offer
Portland, ME → Miami, FL
Same pay buys less
Buying power −10.8%; rent takes 30% of take-home; state tax −$5,654/yr.
30 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Miami, FL is in the Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale, FL pay area; Portland, ME is in Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT. The last column shows what a transfer from Miami, FL to Portland, ME at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Miami, FL | Portland, ME | Real change, Miami → Portland |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $65,735 | $69,905 | +19.2% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $79,533 | $84,579 | +19.2% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $95,326 | $101,375 | +19.2% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $113,356 | $120,548 | +19.2% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $133,953 | $142,452 | +19.2% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Miami, FL | Portland, ME | Portland pay in Miami dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $58,300 | $76,770 | $86,038 (+47.6%) |
| Software Developers | $132,650 | $128,710 | $144,249 (+8.7%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $80,920 | $79,790 | $89,423 (+10.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $91,380 | $88,470 | $99,151 (+8.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.