City comparison
Ocala, FL vs Portland, ME
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Portland, ME are 7.0% higher than in Ocala, FL. Someone earning $100,000 in Ocala, FL would need about $107,000 in Portland, ME to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,658 a month in Portland, ME versus $1,172 in Ocala, FL. On $100,000, that's 27% of take-home pay in Portland, ME and 18% in Ocala, FL.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $5,654 a year higher in Portland, ME than in Ocala, FL.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +13.3% moving from Ocala, FL to Portland, ME ($106,437 → $120,548), while prices change by +7.0%. Net effect of the transfer: +5.9% in real buying power.
- Ocala, FL: price level 95.2 (cheaper)
- 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
| Ocala, FL | Portland, ME | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 95.2 | 101.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $106,955 in Portland | $93,497 in Ocala |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,172/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 | 18% | 27% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $43,990 | $56,960 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT |
Rent areas: Ocala, FL MSA and Portland, ME HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Ocala, FL and Portland-South Portland, ME.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Ocala | Portland |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 86.2 | 105.2 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 97.2 |
| Utilities | 87.1 | 134.6 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 103.2 |
| Overall | 95.2 | 101.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Ocala, FL → Portland, ME
Same pay buys less
Buying power −6.5%; rent takes 27% of take-home; state tax +$5,654/yr.
45 Fair offer
Portland, ME → Ocala, FL
Same pay goes further
Buying power +7.0%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax −$5,654/yr.
90 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Ocala, FL is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Portland, ME is in Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT. The last column shows what a transfer from Ocala, FL to Portland, ME at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Ocala, FL | Portland, ME | Real change, Ocala → Portland |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $69,905 | +5.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $84,579 | +5.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $101,375 | +5.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $120,548 | +5.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $142,452 | +5.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Ocala, FL | Portland, ME | Portland pay in Ocala dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $57,540 | $76,770 | $71,778 (+24.7%) |
| Software Developers | $112,780 | $128,710 | $120,340 (+6.7%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $74,370 | $79,790 | $74,601 (+0.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $79,230 | $88,470 | $82,717 (+4.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.