South Portland, ME vs Miami, FL: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Miami, FL has a modeled overall cost index 15.9% higher than South Portland, ME.

South Portland, ME · modeled 2BR rent: $2,370 / month
Miami, FL · modeled 2BR rent: $2,660 / 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 South Portland, ME and Miami, FL 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 South Portland, ME

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $1,200/month in Miami, FL

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $164,403 in Miami, FL

Regional cost estimates: South Portland, ME uses Boston, MA. Miami, FL uses Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FL Metropolitan Area. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↑ 15.9%

More expensive

Monthly Impact

$1,200

Extra cost

Annual Impact

$14.4K

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.

South Portland, ME

Population:27K

Cost Index:

106.2

100 = national average

Typical Home:$496K

Miami, FL

Population:442K

Cost Index:

123.0

100 = national average

Typical Home:$510K

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South Portland, ME

The Pine Tree State

27K

Population

State Tax

Yes

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

Miami, FL

The Sunshine State

442K

Population

State Tax

No Income Tax

Climate

Tropical

Notable Facts

•Gateway to Latin America
•Major cruise port
•International business hub

Major Industries

International TradeTourismFinanceReal Estate

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: South Portland, ME vs Miami, FL

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	South Portland, ME	Miami, FL	Difference	Change
Other	$1,199/mo	$1,930/mo	↑ $731more	60.9%
Housing	$3,121/mo	$3,404/mo	↑ $283more	9.1%
Groceries	$840/mo	$996/mo	↑ $155more	18.5%
Transportation	$1,203/mo	$1,348/mo	↑ $145more	12.1%
All Utilities	$557/mo	$479/mo	↓ $78.53less	14.1%
Healthcare	$579/mo	$543/mo	↓ $35.97less	6.2%

Other

↑ 60.9%

South Portland, ME

$1,199

Miami, FL

$1,930

Difference

$731

Housing

↑ 9.1%

South Portland, ME

$3,121

Miami, FL

$3,404

Difference

$283

Groceries

↑ 18.5%

South Portland, ME

$840

Miami, FL

$996

Difference

$155

Transportation

↑ 12.1%

South Portland, ME

$1,203

Miami, FL

$1,348

Difference

$145

All Utilities

↓ 14.1%

South Portland, ME

$557

Miami, FL

$479

Difference

$78.53

less

Healthcare

↓ 6.2%

South Portland, ME

$579

Miami, FL

$543

Difference

$35.97

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,630

To$1,995

↑ $365

1 Bed

From$1,850

To$2,180

↑ $330

2 Bed

From$2,370

To$2,660

↑ $290

3 Bed

From$2,880

To$3,415

↑ $535

South Portland, MEZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,850–$1,850/mo

Miami, FLZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,550–$2,990/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 South Portland, ME

$8,700

Monthly in Miami, FL

$1,200

Difference

Home Values

South Portland

Miami

$496K

Median Value

$510K

↑ +0.8%

YoY Change

↓ -3.6%

↑ +42%

5-Year Change

↑ +49.4%

$496K

Price Range

$278K - $1.53M

Homes in Miami are 3% more expensive than South Portland

Calculate payment - South Portland Calculate payment - Miami

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↑ $10.3K

Per year

Monthly Difference

$857

More take-home

Effective Rate Diff

6.9%

Rate difference

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

Miami, FL

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Florida State Tax

No state income tax

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 24.7%

$37.0K

Take-Home Pay

$9,416/month

$113.0K

Additional Tax Information

South Portland, ME Tax Rates

Sales Tax:5.5%

Property Tax:1.3%

Miami, FL Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.2%

Property Tax:0.8%

💡 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.

🚶 Walkability

Modeled road attributes, not a safety assessment. Methodology and limitations

South Portland, ME: No data yet

Miami, FL

28/100

2.5% sidewalk tags · 4.2% cycling tags

Environment

South Portland

Miami

36 Good

Air Quality

48 Good

79.5%

Good Air Days

59.8%

94 Moderate

Climate Risk

100 Very High

🌊🌅🌀

Top Hazards

🌊🌅🌀

▲+2.5°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.3°F

6 days

Heat Days >95°F

15 days

▲+2.5°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.3°F

6 days

Heat Days >95°F

15 days

Before moving from South Portland, ME to Miami, FL

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

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions: South Portland, ME vs Miami, FL

How do the cost estimates for South Portland, ME and Miami, FL compare?

Miami, FL has a modeled overall cost index 15.9% higher than South Portland, 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 South Portland, ME, the model estimates $164,403 in Miami, FL. 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 South Portland, ME and Miami, FL?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $2,370/month in South Portland, ME and $2,660/month in Miami, FL. 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 Florida on TaxTakeHome.com