Rent Affordability for A Chef in Maine
A typical chef in Maine earns about $59,660 a year, which supports approximately $1,492 a month in rent under the 30% rule. Below, every tracked Maine city is ranked by how local rent compares against that affordability ceiling.
As of May 2026. 2 of 25 cities tracked stay within the 30% rule; 23 are rent-burdened on this salary.
| City↕ | Median rent↕ | % of income↑ | Affordability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Presque Isle, ME | $1,025/mo | 20.6% | affordable |
| Waterville, ME | $1,342/mo | 27% | affordable |
| Bangor, ME | $1,509/mo | 30.4% | stretched |
| Lewiston, ME | $1,518/mo | 30.5% | stretched |
| Augusta, ME | $1,549/mo | 31.2% | stretched |
| Auburn, ME | $1,706/mo | 34.3% | stretched |
| Old Town, ME | $1,717/mo | 34.5% | stretched |
| Rockland, ME | $1,719/mo | 34.6% | stretched |
| Sanford, ME | $1,795/mo | 36.1% | stretched |
| Springvale, ME | $1,895/mo | 38.1% | stretched |
| Saco, ME | $1,918/mo | 38.6% | stretched |
| Biddeford, ME | $1,924/mo | 38.7% | stretched |
| Old Orchard Beach, ME | $1,985/mo | 39.9% | stretched |
| Bath, ME | $1,986/mo | 39.9% | stretched |
| Brunswick, ME | $2,125/mo | 42.7% | rent-burdened |
| Gorham, ME | $2,199/mo | 44.2% | rent-burdened |
| Portland, ME | $2,399/mo | 48.3% | rent-burdened |
| South Portland, ME | $2,413/mo | 48.5% | rent-burdened |
| Kittery, ME | $2,411/mo | 48.5% | rent-burdened |
| Yarmouth, ME | $2,489/mo | 50.1% | severely rent-burdened |
| Freeport, ME | $2,528/mo | 50.8% | severely rent-burdened |
| Scarborough, ME | $2,714/mo | 54.6% | severely rent-burdened |
| Orono, ME | $2,900/mo | 58.3% | severely rent-burdened |
| Falmouth, ME | $3,011/mo | 60.6% | severely rent-burdened |
| Cape Elizabeth, ME | $3,217/mo | 64.7% | severely rent-burdened |