Laurel, MD vs South Portland, ME: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

South Portland, ME has a modeled overall cost index 25.0% lower than Laurel, MD.

Laurel, MD · modeled 2BR rent: $2,320 / month
South Portland, ME · modeled 2BR rent: $2,370 / 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

Adjust your income and compare the budget ↓

Tap to swap

Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Laurel, MD and South 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

Current salary in Laurel, MD

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $1,856/month in South Portland, ME

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $127,723 in South Portland, ME

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

Overall Cost

↓ 25.0%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$1,856

Savings

Annual Impact

$22.3K

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.

Laurel, MD

Population:29K

Cost Index:

141.6

100 = national average

Typical Home:$461K

South Portland, ME

Population:27K

Cost Index:

106.2

100 = national average

Typical Home:$496K

Planning the move to South Portland?

Organize packing, address changes, and moving-day tasks with a free checklist. Your progress saves in this browser. No account needed.

Plan my move with the free checklist

Laurel, MD

The Old Line State

29K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Maryland, this city has a population of 29K residents.

South Portland, ME

The Pine Tree State

27K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Maine, this city has a population of 27K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Laurel, MD vs South 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.

Category	Laurel, MD	South Portland, ME	Difference	Change
Housing	$3,614/mo	$2,348/mo	↓ $1,266less	35.0%
Transportation	$1,219/mo	$905/mo	↓ $314less	25.7%
Other	$1,180/mo	$902/mo	↓ $277less	23.5%
Groceries	$723/mo	$632/mo	↓ $90.66less	12.5%
All Utilities	$340/mo	$419/mo	↑ $78.97more	23.2%
Healthcare	$423/mo	$436/mo	↑ $12.26more	2.9%

Housing

↓ 35.0%

Laurel, MD

$3,614

South Portland, ME

$2,348

Difference

$1,266

less

Transportation

↓ 25.7%

Laurel, MD

$1,219

South Portland, ME

$905

Difference

$314

less

Other

↓ 23.5%

Laurel, MD

$1,180

South Portland, ME

$902

Difference

$277

less

Groceries

↓ 12.5%

Laurel, MD

$723

South Portland, ME

$632

Difference

$90.66

less

All Utilities

↑ 23.2%

Laurel, MD

$340

South Portland, ME

$419

Difference

$78.97

Healthcare

↑ 2.9%

Laurel, MD

$423

South Portland, ME

$436

Difference

$12.26

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,910

To$1,630

↓ $280

1 Bed

From$2,030

To$1,850

↓ $180

2 Bed

From$2,320

To$2,370

↑ $50.00

3 Bed

From$2,950

To$2,880

↓ $70.00

Laurel, MDZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,890–$2,120/mo

South Portland, MEZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,850–$1,850/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 Laurel, MD

$5,644

Monthly in South Portland, ME

$1,856

Difference

Home Values

Laurel

South Portland

$461K

Median Value

$496K

↓ -0.1%

YoY Change

↑ +0.8%

↑ +24.2%

5-Year Change

↑ +42%

$409K - $574K

Price Range

$496K

Homes in South Portland are 8% more expensive than Laurel

Calculate payment - Laurel Calculate payment - South Portland

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

Laurel, 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

South 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

Laurel, MD Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.0%

Property Tax:1.1%

South 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

Laurel

South Portland

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 Laurel, MD to South Portland, ME

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

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Laurel, MD vs South Portland, ME

How do the cost estimates for Laurel, MD and South Portland, ME compare?

South Portland, ME has a modeled overall cost index 25.0% lower than Laurel, 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 Laurel, MD, the model estimates $127,723 in South 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 Laurel, MD and South Portland, ME?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $2,320/month in Laurel, MD and $2,370/month in South 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 Maryland and Maine on TaxTakeHome.com