Can A Truck Driver Afford Rent in South Portland, ME?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 57.6% of gross income.

South Portland rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Maine state estimate).

South Portland median rent
$2,533/mo
Truck Driver salary (Maine)
$52,740/yr
Rent as % of income
57.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,395, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,319/mo in rent. South Portland's median rent of $2,533 exceeds that threshold by $1,214/mo, putting a truck driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A truck driver works roughly 99.9 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a truck driver salary

Truck driver pay covers comfortable rent in most lower- and mid-cost US metros and stretches thin in the highest-cost ones. Because many drivers can base anywhere along their route, the home-city rent decision has an outsized effect on take-home. At the national-average driver salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,418 a month in rent. The per-city pages show which markets keep rent within that range and which push it out of reach.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Maine cities have lower median rent than South Portland, which improves the affordability math on a truck driver salary:

Freeport, ME
$2,532/mo (57.6% of income)
Yarmouth, ME
$2,518/mo (57.3% of income)
Kittery, ME
$2,472/mo (56.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for South Portland

View full rent data for South Portland, ME

Frequently asked questions

Can a truck driver afford rent in South Portland, ME?

Median rent in South Portland is $2,533 a month. A typical truck driver in Maine earns about $52,740 a year, which makes that rent 57.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a truck driver afford in South Portland?

Using the 30% rule, a truck driver salary in Maine (~$52,740/yr) supports up to $1,319 a month in rent. South Portland's current median rent is $2,533/mo, which is $1,214/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a truck driver work to cover rent in South Portland?

At an hourly equivalent of about $25 an hour, a truck driver in Maine works roughly 99.9 hours a month to cover South Portland's median rent of $2,533.

Where is rent cheaper than South Portland for a truck driver?

Nearby Maine cities with lower median rent include Freeport ($2,532/mo), Yarmouth ($2,518/mo), Kittery ($2,472/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a truck driver salary.

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