Gardiner, ME vs Red Lion, PA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Red Lion, PA has a modeled overall cost index 2.3% higher than Gardiner, ME.

Gardiner, ME · modeled 2BR rent: $1,420 / month
Red Lion, PA · modeled 2BR rent: $1,210 / 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 Gardiner, ME and Red Lion, 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

Current salary in Gardiner, ME

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $210/month in Red Lion, PA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $152,518 in Red Lion, PA

Regional cost estimates: Gardiner, ME uses Boston, MA. Red Lion, PA uses Baltimore, MD. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↑ 2.3%

More expensive

Monthly Impact

$210

Extra cost

Annual Impact

$2.5K

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.

Gardiner, ME

Population:6K

Cost Index:

92.4

100 = national average

Typical Home:$300K

Red Lion, PA

Population:6K

Cost Index:

94.5

100 = national average

Typical Home:$285K

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Gardiner, ME

The Pine Tree State

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Maine, this city has a population of 6K residents.

Red Lion, PA

The Keystone State

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Pennsylvania, this city has a population of 6K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Gardiner, ME vs Red Lion, 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.

Category	Gardiner, ME	Red Lion, PA	Difference	Change
Housing	$3,063/mo	$2,603/mo	↓ $460less	15.0%
Other	$1,177/mo	$1,584/mo	↑ $407more	34.5%
Groceries	$884/mo	$1,070/mo	↑ $186more	21.0%
Transportation	$1,181/mo	$1,280/mo	↑ $98.78more	8.4%
Healthcare	$609/mo	$578/mo	↓ $30.91less	5.1%
All Utilities	$586/mo	$596/mo	↑ $9.38more	1.6%

Housing

↓ 15.0%

Gardiner, ME

$3,063

Red Lion, PA

$2,603

Difference

$460

less

Other

↑ 34.5%

Gardiner, ME

$1,177

Red Lion, PA

$1,584

Difference

$407

Groceries

↑ 21.0%

Gardiner, ME

$884

Red Lion, PA

$1,070

Difference

$186

Transportation

↑ 8.4%

Gardiner, ME

$1,181

Red Lion, PA

$1,280

Difference

$98.78

Healthcare

↓ 5.1%

Gardiner, ME

$609

Red Lion, PA

$578

Difference

$30.91

less

All Utilities

↑ 1.6%

Gardiner, ME

$586

Red Lion, PA

$596

Difference

$9.38

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,090

To$860

↓ $230

1 Bed

From$1,090

To$970

↓ $120

2 Bed

From$1,420

To$1,210

↓ $210

3 Bed

From$1,820

To$1,640

↓ $180

Gardiner, MEZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,090–$1,090/mo

Red Lion, PAZIP-level data

1BR range: $970–$970/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 Gardiner, ME

$7,710

Monthly in Red Lion, PA

$210

Difference

Home Values

Gardiner

Red Lion

$300K

Median Value

$285K

↑ +1.3%

YoY Change

↑ +3.2%

↑ +50.7%

5-Year Change

↑ +39.8%

Homes in Red Lion are 5% less expensive than Gardiner

Calculate payment - Gardiner Calculate payment - Red Lion

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

Gardiner, 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

Red Lion, 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

Gardiner, ME Tax Rates

Sales Tax:5.5%

Property Tax:1.3%

Red Lion, 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

Gardiner

Red Lion

36 Good

Air Quality

45 Good

79.5%

Good Air Days

65.6%

94 Moderate

Climate Risk

95 High

🌊🌅🌀

Top Hazards

🌊🌡🌪

▲+2.5°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.0°F

6 days

Heat Days >95°F

30 days

▲+2.5°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.0°F

6 days

Heat Days >95°F

30 days

Before moving from Gardiner, ME to Red Lion, PA

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

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Red Lion, PA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Gardiner, 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 Gardiner to Red Lion moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Gardiner, ME vs Red Lion, PA

How do the cost estimates for Gardiner, ME and Red Lion, PA compare?

Red Lion, PA has a modeled overall cost index 2.3% higher than Gardiner, 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 Gardiner, ME, the model estimates $152,518 in Red Lion, 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 Gardiner, ME and Red Lion, PA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,420/month in Gardiner, ME and $1,210/month in Red Lion, 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