Cost of Living in Caribou, ME: Rent, Income & Home Prices

OKRent takes 25 cents of every $1 people earn here.

🏠 Rent per month (2026)$1,19432% lower than U.S. average

💵 Families earn per year (2026)$57,925about $4,827/month · 33% lower than U.S. average

🔑 House price$134,10060% lower than U.S. average

Rent is lower than in 76% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs under 3 years of household income, which is easy by U.S. standards. Commutes are short, about 14.7 minutes.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $47,760 a year. That is $23 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 8 of 34 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Caribou

$1,194

$1,091

$1,645

$1,866

$1,498

$1,061

$991

How much do households earn in Caribou?

Under $25k

24.9%

$25k–50k

26.0%

$50k–100k

28.4%

$100k–150k

11.2%

$150k+

5.3%

Share of households by yearly income. 16.5% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in Caribou

Size	Caribou	U.S. average
Studio	$857	$1,338
1 bedroom	$527	$1,324
2 bedrooms	$933	$1,509
3 bedrooms	$1,119	$1,698

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

How expensive is Caribou overall?

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

Housing

Goods (food, clothes…)

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 Caribou, so the Maine figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Caribou

🏛️ Property tax$1,680a year · 1.25% of home value · U.S. $3,119

⚡ Electric bill$121a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Caribou

Commute to work14.7 minU.S.: 26.4 min

College degree28.8%U.S.: 35.7%

Own their home72.3%U.S.: 65.2%

Below poverty line15.5%U.S.: 12.5%

Unemployment3.4%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Caribou?

Buying is cheaper month to month: about $264 a month less than renting.

Renting

$1,194

Owning

$930

Owning assumes a typical $134,100 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $13,410 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Caribou, ME?

Renting in Caribou costs a median of about $1,194 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Maine median is $1,452.

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

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $47,760 a year, or $23 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Caribou cheap or expensive?

Caribou is rated OK: rent takes 24.7% of the typical household income of $57,925. It ranks 8th cheapest of 34 Maine cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Caribou?

The median homeowner in Caribou pays $1,680 a year in property taxes, about 1.25% of the median home value.

Is Caribou 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 Caribou?

The median home value in Caribou is $134,100, about 2.3 times the typical yearly household income.

7,382 people live in Caribou. Numbers are typical (middle) values.

Is Caribou, ME expensive to live in?