Uprootmap
Providence vs Portland
Providence and Portland
Photo: Bd2media / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Portland are under the US rate in this release, 1.1 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Providence to Portland
In 2022-2023, 135 households filed a move from Providence to Portland (about 182 people, average adjusted gross income $77,400). 85 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,740 in Providence and $1,867 in Portland. Providence has a state tax on wages. Portland has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Portland is 101% of the national level for the same work, against 98% in Providence.
Portland averages 185 sunny days, with July highs around 83°F and January nights around 22°F. Providence is 201 sunny days, 82°F in July, 22°F in January. Commutes average 25 minutes in Portland and 27 in Providence.
These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.
Who already made this move
In 2022-2023, 135 households moved Providence → Portland (about 182 people, average AGI $77,400). 85 households went the other way.
Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.
The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Providence and Portland changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 170 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $1,700–$3,200
- Container or pod
- $1,150–$2,150
- Rent a truck
- $450–$850
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Dig into Portland
Questions
Is Portland cheaper than Providence after tax and rent?
No. Portland leaves about $267 less a month, so the cost of living is higher there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,740 in Providence and $1,867 in Portland.
Does Portland have state income tax?
Portland is in Maine, which taxes wage income.
Did people actually move from Providence 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.