City comparison
Portland, ME vs Reno, NV
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Portland, ME (101.9) and Reno, NV (101.0, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Portland, ME goes as far as $99,200 in Reno, NV.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,658 a month in Portland, ME versus $1,489 in Reno, NV. On $100,000, that's 27% of take-home pay in Portland, ME and 23% in Reno, NV.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $5,654 a year higher in Portland, ME than in Reno, NV.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −11.4% moving from Portland, ME to Reno, NV ($120,548 → $106,855), while prices change by −0.8%. Net effect of the transfer: −10.6% in real buying power.
- Portland, ME: price level 101.9 (about average)
- Reno, NV: price level 101.0 (about average)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Portland, ME | Reno, NV | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 101.9 | 101.0 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,171 in Reno | $100,836 in Portland |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,658/mo | $1,489/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $73,526 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $5,654 (ME) | $0 (NV) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 27% | 23% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $56,960 | $49,660 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT | Reno-Fernley, NV |
Rent areas: Portland, ME HUD Metro FMR Area and Reno, NV HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Portland-South Portland, ME and Reno, NV.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Portland | Reno |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 105.2 | 123.5 |
| Goods | 97.2 | 96.3 |
| Utilities | 134.6 | 89.3 |
| Other services | 103.2 | 98.7 |
| Overall | 101.9 | 101.0 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Portland, ME → Reno, NV
Roughly even
Buying power +0.8%; rent takes 23% of take-home; state tax −$5,654/yr.
71 Strong offer
Reno, NV → Portland, ME
Roughly even
Buying power −0.8%; rent takes 27% of take-home; state tax +$5,654/yr.
63 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Portland, ME is in the Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT pay area; Reno, NV is in Reno-Fernley, NV. The last column shows what a transfer from Portland, ME to Reno, NV at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Portland, ME | Reno, NV | Real change, Portland → Reno |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $69,905 | $61,965 | −10.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $84,579 | $74,972 | −10.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $101,375 | $89,859 | −10.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $120,548 | $106,855 | −10.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $142,452 | $126,271 | −10.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Portland, ME | Reno, NV | Reno pay in Portland dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $76,770 | $62,430 | $62,952 (−18.0%) |
| Software Developers | $128,710 | $125,710 | $126,760 (−1.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,790 | $82,370 | $83,058 (+4.1%) |
| Registered Nurses | $88,470 | $107,520 | $108,418 (+22.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.