East Orange, NJ vs Portland, ME: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Portland, ME has a modeled overall cost index 4.1% higher than East Orange, NJ.

East Orange, NJ · modeled 2BR rent
$2,025 / month
Portland, ME · modeled 2BR rent
$2,190 / 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 East Orange, NJ and Portland, 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

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $463/month in Portland, ME

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $155,560 in Portland, ME

Regional cost estimates: East Orange, NJ uses Newark, NJ. Portland, ME uses Boston, MA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 4.1%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$463
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$5.6K
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.

East Orange, NJ

Population:70K
Cost Index:
104.5
100 = national average
Typical Home:$471K

Portland, ME

Population:69K
Cost Index:
108.7
100 = national average
Typical Home:$527K

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East Orange, NJ

The Garden State

70K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in New Jersey, this city has a population of 70K residents.

Portland, ME

The Pine Tree State

69K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Maine, this city has a population of 69K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: East Orange, NJ vs Portland, 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.

Housing
↑ 76.0%
East Orange, NJ
$1,889
Portland, ME
$3,324
Difference
$1,435
more
Other
↓ 32.0%
East Orange, NJ
$1,880
Portland, ME
$1,277
Difference
$603
less
Transportation
↓ 13.6%
East Orange, NJ
$1,483
Portland, ME
$1,281
Difference
$202
less
Groceries
↓ 14.7%
East Orange, NJ
$1,037
Portland, ME
$884
Difference
$153
less
Healthcare
↓ 6.1%
East Orange, NJ
$649
Portland, ME
$609
Difference
$39.63
less
All Utilities
↑ 4.4%
East Orange, NJ
$562
Portland, ME
$587
Difference
$24.62
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,480
To$1,510
↑ $30.00
1 Bed
From$1,675
To$1,710
↑ $35.00
2 Bed
From$2,025
To$2,190
↑ $165
3 Bed
From$2,535
To$2,660
↑ $125
East Orange, NJZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,630–$1,720/mo

Portland, MEZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,670–$1,780/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 East Orange, NJ
$7,963
Monthly in Portland, ME
$463
Difference

Home Values

East Orange
Portland
$471K
Median Value
$527K
↑ +0.1%
YoY Change
↓ -0.5%
↑ +45.5%
5-Year Change
↑ +44.9%
$460K - $481K
Price Range
$510K - $642K

Homes in Portland are 12% more expensive than East Orange

Calculate payment - East OrangeCalculate payment - Portland

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $2.9K
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$238
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
1.9%
Rate difference

East Orange, NJ

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
New Jersey State Tax
Effective: 5.0%
$7.4K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 29.6%
$44.4K
Take-Home Pay
$8,796/month
$105.6K

Portland, 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

East Orange, NJ Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.6%
Property Tax:2.5%

Portland, 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

East Orange
Portland
N/A
Air Quality
36 Good
-
Good Air Days
79.5%
98 High
Climate Risk
94 Moderate
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌅🌀
▲+2.9°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.5°F
15 days
Heat Days >95°F
6 days
▲+2.9°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.5°F
15 days
Heat Days >95°F
6 days

Before moving from East Orange, NJ to Portland, ME

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Portland, ME for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in East Orange, NJ. 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 East Orange to Portland moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: East Orange, NJ vs Portland, ME

How do the cost estimates for East Orange, NJ and Portland, ME compare?

Portland, ME has a modeled overall cost index 4.1% higher than East Orange, NJ. 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 East Orange, NJ, the model estimates $155,560 in Portland, 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 East Orange, NJ and Portland, ME?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $2,025/month in East Orange, NJ and $2,190/month in Portland, 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 New Jersey and Maine on TaxTakeHome.com

Where your money goes further

Cities cheaper than East Orange, NJ on a $150.0K salary

1.St. Louis, MO
Save $1,067/mo
2.Indianapolis, IN
Save $1,041/mo
3.Pittsburgh, PA
Save $886/mo
4.San Antonio, TX
Save $814/mo
5.Columbus, OH
Save $768/mo

Similar cost to Portland, ME

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