Moving from Boston to Portland
Moving from Boston to Portland: −$15/mo after tax & rent
BostonPortlandAbout 84 miles apart, close enough to drive.
- Portland costs you more
- Rent under 30% of pay
- Real winters
$1,935/mo in Portland. $1,950/mo in Boston. −$180 a year.
Boston
$1,950
left each month
Portland
$1,935
−$15 vs Boston
Next
Who already made this move
In 2022-2023, 2,659 households moved Boston → Portland (about 3,866 people, average AGI $117,279). 1,961 households went the other way.
Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.
See full breakdown
| Per month | Boston | Portland |
|---|---|---|
| Take-home | $6,626 | $5,799 |
| Rent | $2,549 | $1,867 |
| All other costs | $2,127 | $1,997 |
| Left over | $1,950 | $1,935 |
Left over each month is take-home pay minus rent and the rest of the bills. The gap between Boston and Portland changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this · Leftover vs a COL index · Why a cheaper COL% can still lose leftover.
What the move itself costs
About 101 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $1,800–$3,350
- Container or pod
- $1,200–$2,250
- Rent a truck
- $450–$800
Explore more
Other moves from Boston
Dig into Portland
Questions
Is Portland cheaper than Boston after tax and rent?
For one adult in a one-bedroom, Portland leaves about $15 less a month. A one-bedroom is about $2,549 in Boston and $1,867 in Portland.
Does Portland have state income tax?
Portland is in Maine, which taxes wage income.
Did people actually move from Boston to Portland?
Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.