City comparison
Olympia, WA vs Portland, ME
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Olympia, WA are 1.8% higher than in Portland, ME. Someone earning $100,000 in Portland, ME would need about $101,800 in Olympia, WA to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,682 a month in Olympia, WA and $1,658 in Portland, ME.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $5,654 a year higher in Portland, ME than in Olympia, WA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +0.8% moving from Olympia, WA to Portland, ME ($119,630 → $120,548), while prices change by −1.7%. Net effect of the transfer: +2.6% in real buying power.
- Olympia, WA: price level 103.7 (pricier)
- Portland, ME: price level 101.9 (about average)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Olympia, WA | Portland, ME | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 103.7 | 101.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $98,252 in Portland | $101,779 in Olympia |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,682/mo | $1,658/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $73,526 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (WA) | $5,654 (ME) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 25% | 27% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $61,960 | $56,960 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Seattle-Tacoma, WA | Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT |
Rent areas: Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA MSA and Portland, ME HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA and Portland-South Portland, ME.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Olympia | Portland |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 116.7 | 105.2 |
| Goods | 105.0 | 97.2 |
| Utilities | 91.7 | 134.6 |
| Other services | 99.5 | 103.2 |
| Overall | 103.7 | 101.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Olympia, WA → Portland, ME
Roughly even
Buying power +1.8%; rent takes 27% of take-home; state tax +$5,654/yr.
71 Strong offer
Portland, ME → Olympia, WA
Roughly even
Buying power −1.7%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax −$5,654/yr.
63 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Olympia, WA is in the Seattle-Tacoma, WA pay area; Portland, ME is in Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT. The last column shows what a transfer from Olympia, WA to Portland, ME at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Olympia, WA | Portland, ME | Real change, Olympia → Portland |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $69,373 | $69,905 | +2.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $83,935 | $84,579 | +2.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $100,602 | $101,375 | +2.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $119,630 | $120,548 | +2.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $141,367 | $142,452 | +2.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Olympia, WA | Portland, ME | Portland pay in Olympia dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $104,650 | $76,770 | $78,136 (−25.3%) |
| Software Developers | $124,060 | $128,710 | $131,000 (+5.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $94,470 | $79,790 | $81,209 (−14.0%) |
| Registered Nurses | $125,020 | $88,470 | $90,044 (−28.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.