doxoINSIGHTS » Cost of Living in Maine: Cities Where Household Expenses are Highest and Lowest in 2024

Cost of Living in Maine: Cities Where Household Expenses are Highest and Lowest in 2024

What is the cost of living in Maine? doxo breaks down key insights about Maine’s household expenses, with a close look into how bills differ between towns and cities across the state. 

According to doxo’s The Cost of Bills Index™ (COBI), the average household in Maine pays $2,071 in monthly expenses. doxoINSIGHTS compares the cost of the ten most common household bills across different regions. This includes Utilities, Cable & Phone, Mobile Phone, Auto Loans, Auto Insurance, Life Insurance, Health Insurance, Alarm & Security, Rent, and Mortgage.

The data sheds light on Maine’s cost of living through other metrics as well. For example, the “percent of household income” data point shows what percentage of their household income residents spend on bills each month. 

By leveraging these tools, residents can gain a clearer understanding of their household expenses and optimize their financial planning.

Maine ranks as the 25th most expensive state in the US for household bills

According to doxo’s COBI report, Maine is ranked as the 25th most expensive state in the U.S. for household bills, making it the least expensive state for these expenses. 

At $24,852 per year, Maine’s household expenses, on average, are 3% lower than the US average of $25,513. 

Absolute dollar amounts don’t tell the full story, however. doxo’s “Percentage of Household Income” data provides a more proportional look at bill spending in a particular location. Maine households spend 36% of their income on bills. 

COBI helps consumers understand how much it costs to live in one area as compared to another as it relates to the most common household bills. For COBI, the number 100 represents the national average and then, states, counties and cities are assigned a number, either above or below 100, based on how they compare to the national average. The COBI for Maine is 97.

• Average Bill Cost per Household: $2,071 per month
• Cost of Bills Index(COBI): 97
• doxoINSIGHTS State Rank: #25
• Percent of Household Income Used for Bills: 36%
• Compared to the National Average: 3% lower

Maine Household Expenses are 3% Lower Than the National Average

The average Maine household pays $2,071 per month in the 10 most common household bills. The least expensive of these are alarm and security bills. 

On the lowest end of the spectrum, the average monthly payment for alarm and security bills in Maine is $85, compared to the national average of $85, making it the same as the average.

Monthly mortgage bills are the most significant of the 10 most common bills for Maine residents. The average monthly mortgage payment is $1,361, compared to the national average of $1,402, making it 3% less expensive. 

Average Maine Household Bill Spending

Scarborough has the highest cost of living in Maine for household bills

Residents of Scarborough pay the highest household bills in the state of Maine, at an average of $2,824 per month. The Cost of Bills Index (COBI) for Scarborough is 133, meaning the average cost of bills in this city is 33% higher than the national average.

In proportion to household income, monthly bills in Scarborough makeup 30% of the average annual household income of $114,395. 

Access detailed infographics about each city or town by clicking on the hyperlinks in the “City” column in the tables below. You can also browse doxoINSIGHTS’ regional bill comparison database to see infographics about more than 4,200 cities and towns across all 50 states in the US.

10 Most Expensive Maine Cities for Household Bills

Ellsworth has the lowest cost of living in Maine for household bills

Out of 25 cities, Ellsworth is the most affordable place in Maine, with residents paying $1,733 on average for household bills, accounting for 32% of annual income of $65,131. The Cost of Bills Index (COBI) for Ellsworth is 82, meaning the average cost of bills in this city is 18% below the national average. 

Waterville is the second most affordable city in Maine, with residents paying $1,766 per month on average.

Also on the list of the 10 least expensive cities in Maine are Farmington ($1,859), Augusta ($1,870) and Gardiner ($1,948).

10 Most Affordable Maine Cities for Household Bills

Some individuals might be considering moving from a more expensive city to a less expensive one. For those making such decisions, doxoINSIGHTS can be a valuable resource. It allows consumers to compare household expenses in Maine with average bills in various cities and states nationwide.