Calais, ME vs Rochester, PA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Rochester, PA has a modeled overall cost index 2.0% lower than Calais, ME.

Calais, ME · modeled 2BR rent
$1,140 / month
Rochester, PA · modeled 2BR rent
$1,020 / 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 Calais, ME and Rochester, PA 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

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $412/month in Rochester, PA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $145,053 in Rochester, PA

Regional cost estimates: Calais, ME uses Boston, MA. Rochester, PA uses Pittsburgh, PA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 2.0%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$412
Savings
Annual Impact
$4.9K
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.

Calais, ME

Population:3K
Cost Index:
82.0
100 = national average
Typical Home:$144K

Rochester, PA

Population:3K
Cost Index:
80.3
100 = national average
Typical Home:$141K

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Calais, ME

The Pine Tree State

3K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Maine, this city has a population of 3K residents.

Rochester, PA

The Keystone State

3K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Pennsylvania, this city has a population of 3K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Calais, ME vs Rochester, PA

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.

Housing
↓ 39.4%
Calais, ME
$3,011
Rochester, PA
$1,825
Difference
$1,186
less
Other
↑ 44.5%
Calais, ME
$1,157
Rochester, PA
$1,672
Difference
$515
more
Groceries
↑ 17.4%
Calais, ME
$923
Rochester, PA
$1,084
Difference
$161
more
Transportation
↑ 9.0%
Calais, ME
$1,161
Rochester, PA
$1,265
Difference
$104
more
Healthcare
↓ 9.3%
Calais, ME
$636
Rochester, PA
$577
Difference
$58.91
less
All Utilities
↑ 8.5%
Calais, ME
$612
Rochester, PA
$664
Difference
$52.27
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$790
To$790
→ $0
1 Bed
From$870
To$850
↓ $20.00
2 Bed
From$1,140
To$1,020
↓ $120
3 Bed
From$1,580
To$1,300
↓ $280
Calais, MEZIP-level data

1BR range: $870–$870/mo

Rochester, PAZIP-level data

1BR range: $850–$850/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 Calais, ME
$7,088
Monthly in Rochester, PA
$412
Difference

Home Values

Calais
Rochester
$144K
Median Value
$141K
↑ +0.1%
YoY Change
↓ -1.1%
↑ +48.4%
5-Year Change
↑ +8.3%

Homes in Rochester are 3% less expensive than Calais

Calculate payment - CalaisCalculate payment - Rochester

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $5.7K
Per year
Monthly Difference
$474
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
3.8%
Rate difference

Calais, 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

Rochester, PA

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Pennsylvania State Tax
Effective: 3.1%
$4.6K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 27.7%
$41.6K
Take-Home Pay
$9,032/month
$108.4K

Additional Tax Information

Calais, ME Tax Rates

Sales Tax:5.5%
Property Tax:1.3%

Rochester, PA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.5%
Property Tax:1.4%

💡 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

Calais
Rochester
36 Good
Air Quality
52 Moderate
79.5%
Good Air Days
47.8%
94 Moderate
Climate Risk
98 High
🌊🌅🌀
Top Hazards
🌊🌪💨
▲+2.5°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.0°F
6 days
Heat Days >95°F
12 days
▲+2.5°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.0°F
6 days
Heat Days >95°F
12 days

Before moving from Calais, ME to Rochester, PA

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Rochester, PA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Calais, ME. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Calais to Rochester moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Calais, ME vs Rochester, PA

How do the cost estimates for Calais, ME and Rochester, PA compare?

Rochester, PA has a modeled overall cost index 2.0% lower than Calais, 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 Calais, ME, the model estimates $145,053 in Rochester, PA. 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 Calais, ME and Rochester, PA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,140/month in Calais, ME and $1,020/month in Rochester, PA. 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 Pennsylvania on TaxTakeHome.com

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