Brunswick, MD vs Belfast, ME: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Belfast, ME has a modeled overall cost index 34.7% lower than Brunswick, MD.

Brunswick, MD · modeled 2BR rent: $1,250 / month
Belfast, ME · modeled 2BR rent: $1,460 / 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 Brunswick, MD and Belfast, ME 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 Brunswick, MD

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $2,478/month in Belfast, ME

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $120,268 in Belfast, ME

Regional cost estimates: Brunswick, MD uses Washington, DC. Belfast, ME uses Boston, MA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 34.7%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$2,478

Savings

Annual Impact

$29.7K

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.

Brunswick, MD

Population:8K

Cost Index:

129.7

100 = national average

Typical Home:$408K

Belfast, ME

Population:7K

Cost Index:

84.6

100 = national average

Typical Home:$357K

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Brunswick, MD

The Old Line State

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Maryland, this city has a population of 8K residents.

Belfast, ME

The Pine Tree State

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Maine, this city has a population of 7K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Brunswick, MD vs Belfast, ME

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	Brunswick, MD	Belfast, ME	Difference	Change
Housing	$3,583/mo	$2,026/mo	↓ $1,557less	43.5%
Transportation	$1,208/mo	$781/mo	↓ $427less	35.4%
Other	$1,169/mo	$779/mo	↓ $391less	33.4%
Groceries	$749/mo	$611/mo	↓ $138less	18.4%
All Utilities	$353/mo	$405/mo	↑ $52.64more	14.9%
Healthcare	$438/mo	$421/mo	↓ $17.58less	4.0%

Housing

↓ 43.5%

Brunswick, MD

$3,583

Belfast, ME

$2,026

Difference

$1,557

less

Transportation

↓ 35.4%

Brunswick, MD

$1,208

Belfast, ME

$781

Difference

$427

less

Other

↓ 33.4%

Brunswick, MD

$1,169

Belfast, ME

$779

Difference

$391

less

Groceries

↓ 18.4%

Brunswick, MD

$749

Belfast, ME

$611

Difference

$138

less

All Utilities

↑ 14.9%

Brunswick, MD

$353

Belfast, ME

$405

Difference

$52.64

Healthcare

↓ 4.0%

Brunswick, MD

$438

Belfast, ME

$421

Difference

$17.58

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,090

To$1,170

↑ $80.00

1 Bed

From$1,120

To$1,180

↑ $60.00

2 Bed

From$1,250

To$1,460

↑ $210

3 Bed

From$1,580

To$1,890

↑ $310

Brunswick, MDZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,120–$1,120/mo

Belfast, MEZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,180–$1,180/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 Brunswick, MD

$5,022

Monthly in Belfast, ME

$2,478

Difference

Home Values

Brunswick

Belfast

$408K

Median Value

$357K

↑ +0.9%

YoY Change

↓ -0.3%

↑ +31%

5-Year Change

↑ +44.7%

Homes in Belfast are 12% less expensive than Brunswick

Calculate payment - Brunswick Calculate payment - Belfast

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↓ $3.0K

More taxes

Monthly Difference

$252

Less take-home

Effective Rate Diff

2.0%

Rate difference

Brunswick, MD

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Maryland State Tax

Effective: 4.8%

$7.3K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 29.5%

$44.3K

Take-Home Pay

$8,811/month

$105.7K

Belfast, 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

Additional Tax Information

Brunswick, MD Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.0%

Property Tax:1.1%

Belfast, ME Tax Rates

Sales Tax:5.5%

Property Tax:1.3%

💡 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

Brunswick

Belfast

45 Good

Air Quality

36 Good

63.7%

Good Air Days

79.5%

98 High

Climate Risk

94 Moderate

🌊🌀🌡

Top Hazards

🌊🌅🌀

▲+2.9°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.5°F

27 days

Heat Days >95°F

6 days

▲+2.9°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.5°F

27 days

Heat Days >95°F

6 days

Before moving from Brunswick, MD to Belfast, ME

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

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Belfast, ME for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Brunswick, MD. 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 Brunswick to Belfast moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Brunswick, MD vs Belfast, ME

How do the cost estimates for Brunswick, MD and Belfast, ME compare?

Belfast, ME has a modeled overall cost index 34.7% lower than Brunswick, MD. 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 Brunswick, MD, the model estimates $120,268 in Belfast, ME. 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 Brunswick, MD and Belfast, ME?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,250/month in Brunswick, MD and $1,460/month in Belfast, ME. 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 Maryland and Maine on TaxTakeHome.com