Is $36,000 a good salary in Maine?

$36,000 in Maine provides a monthly take-home of approximately $2,404 after taxes. Across major Maine cities, this salary is rated manageable, with an average monthly surplus of $177.

What is the cost of living on $36,000 in Maine?

The average monthly living cost across major Maine cities is approximately $2,227 for a single adult (rent, food, transport, utilities, healthcare). On $36,000 take-home pay of $2,404/month, you would have roughly $177/month remaining.

Living in Maine · 2026

Is $36,000 enough to live in Maine?

Single adult · ME · 2026 tax brackets · Real cost-of-living data

Statewide verdict:Manageable

Monthly take-home

$2,404

Avg monthly expenses

$2,227

Avg monthly surplus

$177

Savings potential

~7%

After-tax take-home in Maine

Gross salary$36,000

Federal income tax− $2,214

State income tax− $2,183

Social Security− $2,232

Medicare− $522

Annual take-home$28,849

Effective tax rate19.86%

How $36,000 feels in Maine cities

Rent: HUD FMR 2026 · Food: USDA Low-Cost Plan × COL · Transport/Utilities/Healthcare: BLS CES × COL

Portland

COL index: 1.21× national avg

Very tight

Rent (1BR)

$1,550

Food

$475

Transport

$212

Utilities

$200

Healthcare

$242

Total: $2,679/mo

Surplus: $-275/mo

Rent burden: 64.5% — Unaffordable (> 50%)

Full Portland analysis →

Lewiston

COL index: 0.91× national avg

Manageable

Rent (1BR)

$1,050

Food

$418

Transport

$159

Utilities

$150

Healthcare

$182

Total: $1,959/mo

Surplus: $445/mo

Rent burden: 43.7% — High (35–50%)

Full Lewiston analysis →

Bangor

COL index: 0.93× national avg

Manageable

Rent (1BR)

$1,100

Food

$427

Transport

$163

Utilities

$153

Healthcare

$186

Total: $2,029/mo

Surplus: $375/mo

Rent burden: 45.8% — High (35–50%)

Full Bangor analysis →

South Portland

COL index: 1.10× national avg

Very tight

Rent (1BR)

$1,450

Food

$462

Transport

$193

Utilities

$182

Healthcare

$220

Total: $2,507/mo

Surplus: $-103/mo

Rent burden: 60.3% — Unaffordable (> 50%)

Full South Portland analysis →

Auburn

COL index: 0.88× national avg

Comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,000

Food

$409

Transport

$154

Utilities

$145

Healthcare

$176

Total: $1,884/mo

Surplus: $520/mo

Rent burden: 41.6% — High (35–50%)

Full Auburn analysis →

Biddeford

COL index: 1.03× national avg

Manageable

Rent (1BR)

$1,300

Food

$449

Transport

$180

Utilities

$170

Healthcare

$206

Total: $2,305/mo

Surplus: $99/mo

Rent burden: 54.1% — Unaffordable (> 50%)

Full Biddeford analysis →

50 / 30 / 20 Budget Planner

Based on your monthly take-home of $2,404 ($28,848/yr)

Needs 50%Wants 30%Savings 20%

Needs50%

$1,202

per month

›Rent / mortgage
›Groceries
›Utilities
›Insurance
›Minimum debt payments
›Transportation

Wants30%

$721

per month

›Dining out
›Streaming services
›Gym
›Hobbies
›Travel
›Shopping

Savings20%

$481

per month

›Emergency fund
›401(k) / IRA
›Investments
›Down payment fund
›Debt payoff (extra)

Needs / year

$14,424

Wants / year

$8,654

Savings / year

$5,770

Salary Intelligence

Financial pressure in Portland

Rent alone would take 64% of take-home income. This salary creates significant financial pressure in this city — a $62,000 annual income or lower rent is needed to reach affordability.

Lifestyle score: 1.6/10 (Difficult)

Lifestyle Assessment

A $36,000 salary does not fully cover typical living expenses for a single adult in Portland, Maine. Monthly costs exceed take-home pay by $275, indicating this income is insufficient for an independent lifestyle here without additional income or reduced spending.

Purchasing Power

Portland's above-average cost of living (index: 1.21) means $36,000 provides the purchasing power of roughly $29,752 in an average-cost US city, or $35,107 in Austin. Moving to a lower-cost state could effectively increase your take-home by thousands.

State & National Benchmark

$36,000 is 13% below the Maine individual median of $41,600. Consider negotiating a higher salary or exploring higher-paying roles in this state.

State individual median

$41,600

-13%

State household median

$71,670

-50%

Tax reduction strategies

Maximize 401(k) Contributions — Up to $5,170 in federal tax (22% bracket)

Contribute to a Traditional IRA — Up to $1,540 in federal tax (22% bracket)

$36,000 vs. Maine income benchmarks

Individual median (Maine)

$41,600

-13% vs. this salary

Household median (Maine)

$71,670

-50% vs. this salary

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 2023

Related salary insights

Explore other salary levels in Maine

$40,000 $60,000 $100,000 $150,000 $200,000 $300,000

Reviewed by

Finance Editor

CPA, 10+ years in personal finance

Data Sources

•Tax calculations: IRS federal tax tables
•Rent data: HUD Fair Market Rents
•Cost-of-living index: C2ER / ACCRA Cost of Living Index

Data updated monthly using government datasets.