Is $53,000 a good salary in Maine?

$53,000 in Maine provides a monthly take-home of approximately $3,447 after taxes. Across major Maine cities, this salary is rated comfortable, with an average monthly surplus of $1,220.

What is the cost of living on $53,000 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 $53,000 take-home pay of $3,447/month, you would have roughly $1,220/month remaining.

Living in Maine · 2026

Is $53,000 enough to live in Maine?

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

Statewide verdict:Comfortable

Monthly take-home

$3,447

Avg monthly expenses

$2,227

Avg monthly surplus

$1,220

Savings potential

~35%

After-tax take-home in Maine

Gross salary$53,000

Federal income tax− $4,254

State income tax− $3,330

Social Security− $3,286

Medicare− $769

Annual take-home$41,361

Effective tax rate21.96%

How $53,000 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

Comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,550

Food

$475

Transport

$212

Utilities

$200

Healthcare

$242

Total: $2,679/mo

Surplus: $768/mo

Rent burden: 45.0% — 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: $1,488/mo

Rent burden: 30.5% — 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: $1,418/mo

Rent burden: 31.9% — Manageable (25–35%)

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: $940/mo

Rent burden: 42.1% — High (35–50%)

Full South Portland analysis →

Auburn

COL index: 0.88× national avg

Very comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,000

Food

$409

Transport

$154

Utilities

$145

Healthcare

$176

Total: $1,884/mo

Surplus: $1,563/mo

Rent burden: 29.0% — 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: $1,142/mo

Rent burden: 37.7% — High (35–50%)

Full Biddeford analysis →

50 / 30 / 20 Budget Planner

Based on your monthly take-home of $3,447 ($41,364/yr)

Needs 50%Wants 30%Savings 20%

Needs50%

$1,724

per month

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

Wants30%

$1,034

per month

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

Savings20%

$689

per month

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

Needs / year

$20,682

Wants / year

$12,409

Savings / year

$8,273

Salary Intelligence

Below comfortable level in Portland

Rent would consume 45% 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: 4.8/10 (Fair)

Lifestyle Assessment

A $53,000 salary comfortably supports a fair single lifestyle in Portland, Maine, with approximately $768/month (~22% of take-home) available for savings — meeting or exceeding the recommended 20% savings rate.

Purchasing Power

Portland's above-average cost of living (index: 1.21) means $53,000 provides the purchasing power of roughly $43,802 in an average-cost US city, or $51,686 in Austin. Moving to a lower-cost state could effectively increase your take-home by thousands.

State & National Benchmark

$53,000 is 27% above the Maine individual median ($41,600) and 5% below the US national median of $56,000.

State individual median

$41,600

+27%

State household median

$71,670

-26%

Tax reduction strategies

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

401(k) Age 50+ Catch-Up Contribution — Up to $2,775 additional tax savings (37% bracket)

$53,000 vs. Maine income benchmarks

Individual median (Maine)

$41,600

+27% vs. this salary

Household median (Maine)

$71,670

-26% 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.