Is it cheaper to live in Maine or Florida?

Florida is moderately cheaper than Maine on totals: $3,575 per person per month at moderate versus Maine’s $4,025, a gap of about $450 a month. The composition tells a different story than the headline. Maine has a 5.5 percent sales tax with groceries exempt and modest property taxes; Florida has no state income tax. Tax friendliness depends on whether you earn most of your money from wages (Florida wins) or spend most of it on retail goods (Maine wins). Florida’s housing varies dramatically by region: Miami, Naples, and the Keys run well above Maine averages, while Jacksonville, Tampa suburbs, and the Panhandle undercut Portland by 30 to 50 percent. Heating costs are a Maine line that Florida households simply do not have. Cooling costs are a Florida line that runs lighter than Maine’s heating bills. For the full breakdown, see our Maine cost of living page.