Can An Auto Mechanic Afford Rent in Cape Elizabeth, ME?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 73.2% of gross income.

Cape Elizabeth rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Maine state estimate).

Cape Elizabeth median rent
$2,908/mo
Auto Mechanic salary (Maine)
$47,681/yr
Rent as % of income
73.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,973, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,192/mo in rent. Cape Elizabeth's median rent of $2,908 exceeds that threshold by $1,716/mo, putting an auto mechanic salary into the rent-burdened range here. An auto mechanic works roughly 126.9 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and an auto mechanic salary

Auto mechanic pay covers comfortable rent in most lower- and mid-cost US metros and stretches thin in the highest-cost ones. Master techs and dealership flat-rate techs often earn well above the BLS figure, which expands affordability further. At the national-average mechanic salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,282 a month in rent. The per-city pages show which markets stay in range.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Maine cities have lower median rent than Cape Elizabeth, which improves the affordability math on an auto mechanic salary:

Scarborough, ME
$2,870/mo (72.2% of income)
Scarborough, ME
$2,844/mo (71.6% of income)
Scarborough, ME
$2,843/mo (71.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Cape Elizabeth

View full rent data for Cape Elizabeth, ME

Frequently asked questions

Can an auto mechanic afford rent in Cape Elizabeth, ME?

Median rent in Cape Elizabeth is $2,908 a month. A typical auto mechanic in Maine earns about $47,681 a year, which makes that rent 73.2% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can an auto mechanic afford in Cape Elizabeth?

Using the 30% rule, an auto mechanic salary in Maine (~$47,681/yr) supports up to $1,192 a month in rent. Cape Elizabeth's current median rent is $2,908/mo, which is $1,716/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does an auto mechanic work to cover rent in Cape Elizabeth?

At an hourly equivalent of about $23 an hour, an auto mechanic in Maine works roughly 126.9 hours a month to cover Cape Elizabeth's median rent of $2,908.

Where is rent cheaper than Cape Elizabeth for an auto mechanic?

Nearby Maine cities with lower median rent include Scarborough ($2,870/mo), Scarborough ($2,844/mo), Scarborough ($2,843/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on an auto mechanic salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Maine state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Cape Elizabeth, ME. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.