Can An Auto Mechanic Afford Rent in Scarborough, ME?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 67.8% of gross income.
Scarborough rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Maine state estimate).
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 Scarborough, which improves the affordability math on an auto mechanic salary:
Compare with full rent data for Scarborough
View full rent data for Scarborough, ME →Frequently asked questions
Can an auto mechanic afford rent in Scarborough, ME?
Median rent in Scarborough is $2,694 a month. A typical auto mechanic in Maine earns about $47,681 a year, which makes that rent 67.8% 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 Scarborough?
Using the 30% rule, an auto mechanic salary in Maine (~$47,681/yr) supports up to $1,192 a month in rent. Scarborough's current median rent is $2,694/mo, which is $1,502/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does an auto mechanic work to cover rent in Scarborough?
At an hourly equivalent of about $23 an hour, an auto mechanic in Maine works roughly 117.5 hours a month to cover Scarborough's median rent of $2,694.
Where is rent cheaper than Scarborough for an auto mechanic?
Nearby Maine cities with lower median rent include Kittery ($2,683/mo), Kittery ($2,661/mo), Gorham ($2,650/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on an auto mechanic salary.