The High Price of Quiet Living: Maine’s Cost-of-Living Crisis

When it comes to quality of life, it's difficult to find somewhere better than Maine.

This state is the ultimate gem. Let's run down some of the reason why.

-Incredible Food
-No Traffic
-Beautiful Scenery
-Incredible Outdoor Activities
-Relatively Safe
-Vibrant Art Scene
-Affordable Entertainment
-Competitive Sports Teams
-Easy Access to Canada and New England
-Amazing Paks
-Very Kind Citizens
-Easy Water Access
-Did I Mention the Food?

It also helps that Maine is a relatively small state with a low population, giving much of it a remote, peaceful vibe. That may change in the coming years, but for now, it still holds onto that incredible rural charm.

While all of this is outstanding, there's one glaring issue that needs to be addressed: the cost of living. And, well—how do I put this mildly... it's ridiculous.

Is Maine One of the Most Expensive States to Live In?

The folks over at uhomes.com compiled a list of the most expensive states to live in. Maine ranked near the top, which is likely not surprising to anyone who lives here. The Pine Tree State, unfortunately, came in as the 14th most expensive. Not great, Bob!

uhomes.com utilized 2025 economic metrics, along with reports from Bloomberg, to compile their results. Maine scored a 109.2 on the cost-of-living index—a metric that measures basic expenses and how they rise over time in certain regions. That 109.2 rating is about 13% higher than the national baseline.

Why is Maine So Expensive?

So, why is this number so high? It's a no-brainer: housing. uhomes.com points out that the statewide median home sale price is around $410,000, and one-bedroom rentals are nearing $2,000—which is eye-opening, to say the least.

We all know this has been a major issue in Maine for quite some time, with no real end in sight. And it’s not like food or other essential goods are getting cheaper anytime soon. I guess that’s just the price we pay to live in such a wonderful state.

READ MORE: Maine’s Top Private Employers: 40 Largest Companies in the State

Maine wasn’t even the most expensive state in New England. That honor goes to Massachusetts, which came in as the 2nd most expensive state to live in—trailing only Hawaii. New Hampshire also made the Top 10, landing in 10th place.

You can see the full list here.