Augusta, ME vs Rutland, VT: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Rutland, VT has a modeled overall cost index 0.3% higher than Augusta, ME.

Augusta, ME · modeled 2BR rent: $1,380 / month
Rutland, VT · modeled 2BR rent: $1,310 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Augusta, ME and Rutland, VT using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

Current salary in Augusta, ME

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $17.58/month in Rutland, VT

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $150,211 in Rutland, VT

Regional cost estimates: Augusta, ME uses Boston, MA. Rutland, VT uses Boston, MA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↑ 0.3%

More expensive

Monthly Impact

$17.58

Extra cost

Annual Impact

$211

Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Augusta, ME

Population:19K

Cost Index:

96.5

100 = national average

Typical Home:$276K

Rutland, VT

Population:16K

Cost Index:

96.8

100 = national average

Typical Home:$274K

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Augusta, ME

The Pine Tree State

19K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Maine, this city has a population of 19K residents.

Rutland, VT

The Green Mountain State

16K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Vermont, this city has a population of 16K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Augusta, ME vs Rutland, VT

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Category	Augusta, ME	Rutland, VT	Difference	Change
Housing	$3,081/mo	$3,090/mo	↑ $8.36more	0.3%
Transportation	$1,188/mo	$1,191/mo	↑ $3.22more	0.3%
Other	$1,184/mo	$1,187/mo	↑ $3.21more	0.3%
Groceries	$870/mo	$871/mo	↑ $1.18more	0.1%
Healthcare	$599/mo	$600/mo	↑ $0.81more	0.1%
All Utilities	$577/mo	$578/mo	↑ $0.78more	0.1%

Housing

↑ 0.3%

Augusta, ME

$3,081

Rutland, VT

$3,090

Difference

$8.36

Transportation

↑ 0.3%

Augusta, ME

$1,188

Rutland, VT

$1,191

Difference

$3.22

Other

↑ 0.3%

Augusta, ME

$1,184

Rutland, VT

$1,187

Difference

$3.21

Groceries

↑ 0.1%

Augusta, ME

$870

Rutland, VT

$871

Difference

$1.18

Healthcare

↑ 0.1%

Augusta, ME

$599

Rutland, VT

$600

Difference

$0.81

All Utilities

↑ 0.1%

Augusta, ME

$577

Rutland, VT

$578

Difference

$0.78

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,050

To$990

↓ $60.00

1 Bed

From$1,060

To$1,000

↓ $60.00

2 Bed

From$1,380

To$1,310

↓ $70.00

3 Bed

From$1,770

To$1,600

↓ $170

Augusta, MEZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,060–$1,060/mo

Rutland, VTZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,000–$1,000/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500

Monthly in Augusta, ME

$7,518

Monthly in Rutland, VT

$17.58

Difference

Home Values

Augusta

Rutland

$276K

Median Value

$274K

↓ -2.2%

YoY Change

↑ +6.2%

↑ +50.7%

5-Year Change

↑ +43.7%

Homes in Rutland are 1% less expensive than Augusta

Calculate payment - Augusta Calculate payment - Rutland

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↑ $1.2K

Per year

Monthly Difference

$101

More take-home

Effective Rate Diff

0.8%

Rate difference

Augusta, ME

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Maine State Tax

Effective: 6.9%

$10.3K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 31.5%

$47.3K

Take-Home Pay

$8,558/month

$102.7K

Rutland, VT

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Vermont State Tax

Effective: 6.1%

$9.1K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 30.7%

$46.1K

Take-Home Pay

$8,659/month

$103.9K

Additional Tax Information

Augusta, ME Tax Rates

Sales Tax:5.5%

Property Tax:1.3%

Rutland, VT Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.1%

Property Tax:1.9%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Augusta

Rutland

36 Good

Air Quality

36 Good

79.5%

Good Air Days

79.5%

94 Moderate

Climate Risk

94 Moderate

🌊🌅🌀

Top Hazards

🌊🌅🌀

▲+2.5°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.5°F

6 days

Heat Days >95°F

6 days

▲+2.5°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.5°F

6 days

Heat Days >95°F

6 days

Before moving from Augusta, ME to Rutland, VT

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Rutland, VT for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Augusta, ME. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Augusta to Rutland moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Rutland, VT by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Augusta, ME vs Rutland, VT

How do the cost estimates for Augusta, ME and Rutland, VT compare?

Rutland, VT has a modeled overall cost index 0.3% higher than Augusta, ME. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Augusta, ME, the model estimates $150,211 in Rutland, VT. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Augusta, ME and Rutland, VT?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,380/month in Augusta, ME and $1,310/month in Rutland, VT. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Maine and Vermont on TaxTakeHome.com