Is $48,000 a good salary in Maine?

$48,000 in Maine provides a monthly take-home of approximately $3,140 after taxes. Across major Maine cities, this salary is rated comfortable, with an average monthly surplus of $913.

What is the cost of living on $48,000 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 $48,000 take-home pay of $3,140/month, you would have roughly $913/month remaining.

Living in Maine · 2026

Is $48,000 enough to live in Maine?

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

Statewide verdict:Comfortable

Monthly take-home

$3,140

Avg monthly expenses

$2,227

Avg monthly surplus

$913

Savings potential

~29%

After-tax take-home in Maine

Gross salary$48,000

Federal income tax− $3,654

State income tax− $2,993

Social Security− $2,976

Medicare− $696

Annual take-home$37,681

Effective tax rate21.5%

How $48,000 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: $461/mo

Rent burden: 49.4% — High (35–50%)

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: $1,181/mo

Rent burden: 33.4% — Manageable (25–35%)

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: $1,111/mo

Rent burden: 35.0% — High (35–50%)

Full Bangor analysis →

South Portland

COL index: 1.10× national avg

Comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,450

Food

$462

Transport

$193

Utilities

$182

Healthcare

$220

Total: $2,507/mo

Surplus: $633/mo

Rent burden: 46.2% — High (35–50%)

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: $1,256/mo

Rent burden: 31.8% — Manageable (25–35%)

Full Auburn analysis →

Biddeford

COL index: 1.03× national avg

Comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,300

Food

$449

Transport

$180

Utilities

$170

Healthcare

$206

Total: $2,305/mo

Surplus: $835/mo

Rent burden: 41.4% — High (35–50%)

Full Biddeford analysis →

50 / 30 / 20 Budget Planner

Based on your monthly take-home of $3,140 ($37,680/yr)

Needs 50%Wants 30%Savings 20%

Needs50%

$1,570

per month

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

Wants30%

$942

per month

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

Savings20%

$628

per month

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

Needs / year

$18,840

Wants / year

$11,304

Savings / year

$7,536

Salary Intelligence

Below comfortable level in Portland

Rent would consume 49% of take-home income — above the 35% stress threshold. A higher salary or lower-cost housing is needed for financial stability in this city.

Lifestyle score: 3.8/10 (Challenging)

Lifestyle Assessment

A $48,000 salary supports a challenging single lifestyle in Portland, Maine. After essential expenses, approximately $461/month (~15% of take-home) is available for savings or discretionary spending.

Purchasing Power

Portland's above-average cost of living (index: 1.21) means $48,000 provides the purchasing power of roughly $39,669 in an average-cost US city, or $46,810 in Austin. Moving to a lower-cost state could effectively increase your take-home by thousands.

State & National Benchmark

$48,000 is slightly above the Maine individual median of $41,600 (+15%). The state household median is $71,670.

State individual median

$41,600

+15%

State household median

$71,670

-33%

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)

$48,000 vs. Maine income benchmarks

Individual median (Maine)

$41,600

+15% vs. this salary

Household median (Maine)

$71,670

-33% 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.