South Portland, ME vs North Plainfield, NJ: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

North Plainfield, NJ has a modeled overall cost index 4.1% lower than South Portland, ME.

South Portland, ME · modeled 2BR rent: $2,370 / month
North Plainfield, NJ · modeled 2BR rent: $2,340 / 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 North Plainfield, NJ 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 savings: $443/month in North Plainfield, NJ

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $144,681 in North Plainfield, NJ

Regional cost estimates: South Portland, ME uses Boston, MA. North Plainfield, NJ uses Newark, NJ. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 4.1%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$443

Savings

Annual Impact

$5.3K

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.

South Portland, ME

Population:27K

Cost Index:

106.2

100 = national average

Typical Home:$496K

North Plainfield, NJ

Population:23K

Cost Index:

101.8

100 = national average

Typical Home:$493K

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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.

North Plainfield, NJ

The Garden State

23K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in New Jersey, this city has a population of 23K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: South Portland, ME vs North Plainfield, NJ

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	North Plainfield, NJ	Difference	Change
Housing	$3,121/mo	$1,770/mo	↓ $1,351less	43.3%
Other	$1,199/mo	$1,762/mo	↑ $563more	46.9%
Transportation	$1,203/mo	$1,390/mo	↑ $187more	15.6%
Groceries	$840/mo	$985/mo	↑ $144more	17.2%
Healthcare	$579/mo	$616/mo	↑ $37.13more	6.4%
All Utilities	$557/mo	$534/mo	↓ $23.85less	4.3%

Housing

↓ 43.3%

South Portland, ME

$3,121

North Plainfield, NJ

$1,770

Difference

$1,351

less

Other

↑ 46.9%

South Portland, ME

$1,199

North Plainfield, NJ

$1,762

Difference

$563

Transportation

↑ 15.6%

South Portland, ME

$1,203

North Plainfield, NJ

$1,390

Difference

$187

Groceries

↑ 17.2%

South Portland, ME

$840

North Plainfield, NJ

$985

Difference

$144

Healthcare

↑ 6.4%

South Portland, ME

$579

North Plainfield, NJ

$616

Difference

$37.13

All Utilities

↓ 4.3%

South Portland, ME

$557

North Plainfield, NJ

$534

Difference

$23.85

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,630

To$1,710

↑ $80.00

1 Bed

From$1,850

To$1,930

↑ $80.00

2 Bed

From$2,370

To$2,340

↓ $30.00

3 Bed

From$2,880

To$2,920

↑ $40.00

South Portland, MEZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,850–$1,850/mo

North Plainfield, NJZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,840–$1,950/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

$7,057

Monthly in North Plainfield, NJ

$443

Difference

Home Values

South Portland

North Plainfield

$496K

Median Value

$493K

↑ +0.8%

YoY Change

↑ +2.8%

↑ +42%

5-Year Change

↑ +53%

$496K

Price Range

$479K - $517K

Homes in North Plainfield are 1% less expensive than South Portland

Calculate payment - South Portland Calculate payment - North Plainfield

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↑ $2.9K

Per year

Monthly Difference

$238

More take-home

Effective Rate Diff

1.9%

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

North Plainfield, 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

Additional Tax Information

South Portland, ME Tax Rates

Sales Tax:5.5%

Property Tax:1.3%

North Plainfield, NJ Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.6%

Property Tax:2.5%

💡 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

South Portland

North Plainfield

36 Good

Air Quality

N/A

79.5%

Good Air Days

94 Moderate

Climate Risk

98 High

🌊🌅🌀

Top Hazards

🌊🌡🌪

▲+2.5°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.9°F

6 days

Heat Days >95°F

15 days

▲+2.5°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.9°F

6 days

Heat Days >95°F

15 days

Before moving from South Portland, ME to North Plainfield, NJ

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

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in North Plainfield, NJ 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 North Plainfield moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to North Plainfield, NJ by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: South Portland, ME vs North Plainfield, NJ

How do the cost estimates for South Portland, ME and North Plainfield, NJ compare?

North Plainfield, NJ has a modeled overall cost index 4.1% lower 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 $144,681 in North Plainfield, NJ. 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 North Plainfield, NJ?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $2,370/month in South Portland, ME and $2,340/month in North Plainfield, NJ. 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 New Jersey on TaxTakeHome.com