Pottstown, PA vs South Portland, ME: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

South Portland, ME has a modeled overall cost index 15.7% higher than Pottstown, PA.

Pottstown, PA · modeled 2BR rent
$1,790 / 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

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Pottstown, PA 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

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $1,223/month in South Portland, ME

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $164,678 in South Portland, ME

Regional cost estimates: Pottstown, PA uses Philadelphia, PA. South Portland, ME uses Boston, MA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 15.7%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$1,223
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$14.7K
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.

Pottstown, PA

Population:23K
Cost Index:
91.7
100 = national average
Typical Home:$475K

South Portland, ME

Population:27K
Cost Index:
106.2
100 = national average
Typical Home:$496K

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Pottstown, PA

The Keystone State

23K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Pennsylvania, this city has a population of 23K 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: Pottstown, PA 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.

Housing
↑ 79.3%
Pottstown, PA
$2,025
South Portland, ME
$3,630
Difference
$1,605
more
Other
↓ 19.2%
Pottstown, PA
$1,726
South Portland, ME
$1,395
Difference
$331
less
Groceries
↓ 13.3%
Pottstown, PA
$1,128
South Portland, ME
$977
Difference
$151
less
Healthcare
↑ 8.6%
Pottstown, PA
$620
South Portland, ME
$673
Difference
$53.10
more
All Utilities
↑ 4.6%
Pottstown, PA
$620
South Portland, ME
$648
Difference
$28.70
more
Transportation
↑ 1.3%
Pottstown, PA
$1,382
South Portland, ME
$1,399
Difference
$17.64
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,380
To$1,630
↑ $250
1 Bed
From$1,500
To$1,850
↑ $350
2 Bed
From$1,790
To$2,370
↑ $580
3 Bed
From$2,150
To$2,880
↑ $730
Pottstown, PAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,500–$1,500/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 Pottstown, PA
$8,723
Monthly in South Portland, ME
$1,223
Difference

Home Values

Pottstown
South Portland
$475K
Median Value
$496K
↑ +2.9%
YoY Change
↑ +0.8%
↑ +36%
5-Year Change
↑ +42%

Homes in South Portland are 4% more expensive than Pottstown

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $5.7K
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$474
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
3.8%
Rate difference

Pottstown, 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

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

Pottstown, PA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.5%
Property Tax:1.4%

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

Pottstown
South Portland
52 Moderate
Air Quality
36 Good
47.3%
Good Air Days
79.5%
100 Very High
Climate Risk
94 Moderate
🌊🌅🌀
Top Hazards
🌊🌅🌀
▲+2.9°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.5°F
22 days
Heat Days >95°F
6 days
▲+2.9°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.5°F
22 days
Heat Days >95°F
6 days

Before moving from Pottstown, PA to South 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 South Portland, ME for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Pottstown, PA. 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 Pottstown 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: Pottstown, PA vs South Portland, ME

How do the cost estimates for Pottstown, PA and South Portland, ME compare?

South Portland, ME has a modeled overall cost index 15.7% higher than Pottstown, PA. 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 Pottstown, PA, the model estimates $164,678 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 Pottstown, PA and South Portland, ME?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,790/month in Pottstown, PA 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 Pennsylvania and Maine on TaxTakeHome.com

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