States › Maine › Augusta

Is Augusta, ME expensive to live in?

ExpensiveRent takes 32 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$1,37821% lower than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$51,745about $4,312/month · 41% lower than U.S. average
🔑 House price$201,00040% lower than U.S. average

Rent is lower than in 65% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 3.9 years of household income. Commutes are short, about 18.7 minutes.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $55,120 a year. That is $27 an hour at a full-time job.

Is rent cheaper than other Maine cities?

Yes. Rent here is cheaper than in most of Maine. It is number 15 of 34 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Augusta
$1,378
Brunswick
$2,158
Westbrook
$1,772
Saco
$1,750
Waterville
$1,476
Sanford
$1,245
Biddeford
$2,037

How much do households earn in Augusta?

Under $25k
24.8%
$25k–50k
33.8%
$50k–100k
25.4%
$100k–150k
8.1%
$150k+
4.7%

Share of households by yearly income. 12.8% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in Augusta

SizeAugustaU.S. average
Studio$945$1,338
1 bedroom$800$1,324
2 bedrooms$1,202$1,509
3 bedrooms$1,358$1,698

Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.

How expensive is Augusta overall?

Everyday prices in Maine overall are 3% below the U.S. average (index 97.0, U.S. = 100).

Housing
79
Goods (food, clothes…)
97
Utilities
135
Other services
103
U.S. average
100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Augusta, so the Maine figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Augusta

🏛️ Property tax$2,465a year · 1.23% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$104a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Augusta

Commute to work18.7 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree28.9%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home53.8%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line18.2%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment5.7%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Augusta?

About the same. Renting and owning cost within $17 of each other each month.

Renting
$1,378
Owning
$1,395

Owning assumes a typical $201,000 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $20,100 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Augusta, ME?

Renting in Augusta costs a median of about $1,378 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Maine median is $1,452.

How much do I need to make to live in Augusta?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $55,120 a year, or $27 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Augusta cheap or expensive?

Augusta is rated Expensive: rent takes 32.0% of the typical household income of $51,745. It ranks 15th cheapest of 34 Maine cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Augusta?

The median homeowner in Augusta pays $2,465 a year in property taxes, about 1.23% of the median home value.

Is Augusta more expensive than the national average?

Overall prices in Maine are 3% below the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

How much does a house cost in Augusta?

The median home value in Augusta is $201,000, about 3.9 times the typical yearly household income.

19,077 people live in Augusta. Numbers are typical (middle) values.