Is $42,000 a good salary in Maine?

$42,000 in Maine provides a monthly take-home of approximately $2,772 after taxes. Across major Maine cities, this salary is rated comfortable, with an average monthly surplus of $545.

What is the cost of living on $42,000 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 $42,000 take-home pay of $2,772/month, you would have roughly $545/month remaining.

Living in Maine · 2026

Is $42,000 enough to live in Maine?

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

Statewide verdict:Comfortable

Monthly take-home

$2,772

Avg monthly expenses

$2,227

Avg monthly surplus

$545

Savings potential

~20%

After-tax take-home in Maine

Gross salary$42,000

Federal income tax− $2,934

State income tax− $2,588

Social Security− $2,604

Medicare− $609

Annual take-home$33,265

Effective tax rate20.8%

How $42,000 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

Manageable

Rent (1BR)

$1,550

Food

$475

Transport

$212

Utilities

$200

Healthcare

$242

Total: $2,679/mo

Surplus: $93/mo

Rent burden: 55.9% — Unaffordable (> 50%)

Full Portland analysis →

Lewiston

COL index: 0.91× national avg

Comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,050

Food

$418

Transport

$159

Utilities

$150

Healthcare

$182

Total: $1,959/mo

Surplus: $813/mo

Rent burden: 37.9% — High (35–50%)

Full Lewiston analysis →

Bangor

COL index: 0.93× national avg

Comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,100

Food

$427

Transport

$163

Utilities

$153

Healthcare

$186

Total: $2,029/mo

Surplus: $743/mo

Rent burden: 39.7% — High (35–50%)

Full Bangor analysis →

South Portland

COL index: 1.10× national avg

Manageable

Rent (1BR)

$1,450

Food

$462

Transport

$193

Utilities

$182

Healthcare

$220

Total: $2,507/mo

Surplus: $265/mo

Rent burden: 52.3% — 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: $888/mo

Rent burden: 36.1% — 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: $467/mo

Rent burden: 46.9% — High (35–50%)

Full Biddeford analysis →

50 / 30 / 20 Budget Planner

Based on your monthly take-home of $2,772 ($33,264/yr)

Needs 50%Wants 30%Savings 20%

Needs50%

$1,386

per month

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

Wants30%

$832

per month

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

Savings20%

$554

per month

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

Needs / year

$16,632

Wants / year

$9,979

Savings / year

$6,653

Salary Intelligence

Financial pressure in Portland

Rent alone would take 56% 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: 2.2/10 (Difficult)

Lifestyle Assessment

A $42,000 salary can cover essential living costs for a single adult in Portland, Maine, but leaves little room for savings (~3% of take-home). Lifestyle is rated difficult, with careful budgeting required to avoid month-to-month shortfalls.

Purchasing Power

Portland's above-average cost of living (index: 1.21) means $42,000 provides the purchasing power of roughly $34,711 in an average-cost US city, or $40,959 in Austin. Moving to a lower-cost state could effectively increase your take-home by thousands.

State & National Benchmark

$42,000 is slightly above the Maine individual median of $41,600 (+1%). The state household median is $71,670.

State individual median

$41,600

+1%

State household median

$71,670

-41%

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)

$42,000 vs. Maine income benchmarks

Individual median (Maine)

$41,600

+1% vs. this salary

Household median (Maine)

$71,670

-41% 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.