Direct Answer
Augusta, ME has a CostOfCity index of 96, which is 4% below the national baseline. Average modeled rent is $919/month and the single-adult living cost estimate is $3,439/month.
How to Use This City Page
Cost of Living in Augusta: The Full Picture
Whether you're a longtime Augusta resident or considering this northeastern smaller city for a potential move, understanding local costs is essential. The city's economy — a recovering industrial economy reinventing itself around eds and meds — creates a pricing environment that national data can't capture. Coastal storms and heavy snowfall inflate insurance premiums and push emergency service calls through the roof every winter. Here's what the numbers look like across 62 categories.
Augusta Cost Index by Category
Each bar shows how the Augusta cost index for that category compares to the US national baseline of 100.
Augusta has a steady mid-Atlantic economy balanced between government, healthcare, and small business
The housing market features a housing market that mostly tracks national trends, with surprises in specific neighborhoods
Coastal storms and heavy snowfall inflate insurance premiums and push emergency service calls through the roof every winter.. The lifestyle here is characterized by Cultural institutions, professional sports, and nightlife that rival any global city — and cost like one too..
With costs sitting slightly below the national average, Augusta offers a neutral financial playing field. No dramatic markups, no exceptional bargains.
💰 Purchasing Power in Augusta
Purchasing power adjusted to national average baseline. In Augusta, your dollar buys 4% more than the national average.
🔺 Where Augusta Costs More
🔽 Where Augusta Costs Less
💰 Salary Landscape
vs national average · higher = better
Monthly Living Expenses in Augusta
What it actually costs to live in Augusta each month — from tight budgets to comfortable lifestyles.
Estimates include housing, food, transportation, utilities, insurance, and discretionary spending. Based on Augusta's cost index of 96 applied to national spending surveys.
🏘️ Neighborhood Cost Variation
Augusta's cost landscape is shaped by geography. Transit access and historic district premiums drive the sharpest price differences between neighborhoods. A 15-minute drive can mean a 20%+ swing in housing and service costs.
Augusta vs U.S. Average Cost of Living
Category-by-category affordability grades — based on deviation from the national average.
🏠 Home Services in Augusta
What contractors charge for the most common repairs, installations, and remodels
Roof Replacement
+16%HVAC Installation
-23%Plumbing Services
0%Electrical Work
+26%Kitchen Remodel
+6%Bathroom Remodel
+15%House Painting
-1%Flooring Installation
+8%Landscaping
-9%Fence Installation
+4%Window Replacement
+13%Solar Panel Installation
+15%Water Heater Replacement
-3%Deck Building
-4%Pool Installation
+7%Tree Removal
-3%Garage Door Repair
-5%💼 Business Startup Costs in Augusta
Full startup cost breakdowns — from lease deposits to working capital
Start a Restaurant
-1%Start a Coffee Shop
+6%Start a Food Truck
-23%Start a Gym
-5%Start a Daycare
0%Start a Hair Salon
-7%Start a Laundromat
+12%Start a Bakery
-10%Start a Bar
-3%Start a Cleaning Business
+2%Start an Airbnb
+4%Start a Trucking Business
+6%📊 Cost of Living in Augusta
Monthly expenses for housing, food, transportation, and everyday necessities
Cost of Living
-14%Rent Prices
-35%Grocery Costs
-16%Utility Costs
+13%Transportation Costs
+1%Childcare Costs
-19%Gym Membership
-28%🛡️ Insurance in Augusta
Annual and monthly premium estimates for major insurance categories
Car Insurance
+17%Home Insurance
-7%Health Insurance
-9%Business Insurance
+10%Life Insurance
+10%Renters Insurance
+25%Pet Insurance
0%Dental Insurance
-8%Motorcycle Insurance
+2%⚖️ Legal Services in Augusta
Attorney fees, court costs, and total legal service expenses
Personal Injury Lawyer
+18%Divorce Lawyer
+6%DUI Lawyer
-13%Immigration Lawyer
+28%Estate Planning Lawyer
+20%Workers Comp Lawyer
+27%Bankruptcy Lawyer
+1%💰 Salaries & Jobs in Augusta
Annual compensation by experience level, role, and specialization
Software Developer Salary
-5%Registered Nurse Salary
-8%Teacher Salary
-15%Electrician Salary
-4%Plumber Salary
-14%Accountant Salary
-16%Physical Therapist Salary
+10%Police Officer Salary
-11%Dentist Salary
+11%Real Estate Agent Salary
-4%How Much Income Do You Need in Augusta?
✅ Best For
- Families seeking work-life balance
- Small business founders
- First-time homebuyers
- Young professionals starting out
⚠️ Not Ideal For
- Workers in niche industries with few local employers
- Those seeking big-city nightlife
Before moving to Augusta, compare your target salary against local costs using our calculator. You may be pleasantly surprised by how far your income goes.
CostOfCity Value Index
The CostOfCity Value Index combines cost-of-living data with median income, savings potential, and cost growth trends to produce a single score. Higher = better value for your money. Updated quarterly.
Get Augusta Cost Alerts
Free monthly brief: rent shifts, insurance rate changes, and salary trends in Augusta. No spam — just the numbers that matter.
Free monthly cost alerts. Unsubscribe anytime. We never share your email.
Frequently Asked Questions About Augusta
What are the most expensive cost categories in Augusta?
Like most US cities, housing is the single largest expense in Augusta, typically accounting for 30-40% of household budgets. Insurance and home services tend to be the next most variable categories, influenced by northeastern climate conditions and state regulations.
What is the median household income in Augusta?
The median household income in Augusta is approximately $42,000 per year. Adjusted for local cost of living (index: 96), this provides purchasing power roughly in line with the national average.
How does Augusta compare to other cities in ME?
Within Maine, Augusta has a cost index of 96. Nearby options include Portland and Portsmouth, which offer useful comparison points.
Explore Augusta in Depth
Nearby Cities to Compare
19% more expensive than Augusta
32% more expensive than Augusta
10% more expensive than Augusta
14% more expensive than Augusta
16% more expensive than Augusta
14% more expensive than Augusta
Compare Augusta Costs Nationally
See how Augusta ranks on major household and life expenses against 300+ US cities — cheapest to most expensive.
Popular Augusta cost & affordability searches
- → Rent prices in Augusta, ME
- → Salary needed to live in Augusta
- → Monthly budget for a single adult in Augusta
- → Healthcare cost in Augusta
- → Grocery cost in Augusta
- → Utility bills in Augusta
- → Childcare cost in Augusta
- → Average wedding cost in Augusta
- → Retirement cost in Augusta, ME
- → Can I afford Augusta on $75K?
- → Can I afford Augusta on $100K?
- → Living alone in Augusta: solo budget