Cost of living, taxes, and quality of life compared for 2026 — with a verdict.
Vermont vs Maine comes down to what you value. Maine is the more affordable of the two — its cost of living runs about 7% lower than Vermont, so the same paycheck stretches further. Vermont ranks higher overall on our Best Life Rank (#21 vs #25), balancing cost against quality of life. Vermont is strongest on safety and weakest on economy; Maine is strongest on safety and weakest on economy.
| Metric | Vermont | Maine |
|---|---|---|
| BLISS score (cost) | 1.21 21% above average | 1.13 13% above average |
| Best Life Rank | #21 | #25 |
| Cost of living | #45 | #39 |
| Climate | #30 | #31 |
| Healthcare | #6 | #17 |
| Schools | #9 | #18 |
| Safety | #3 | #2 |
| Economy | #35 | #36 |
| Air quality | #7 | #6 |
Ranks are out of 50 states (#1 = best). BLISS score is a cost-of-living multiplier where 1.00 = the U.S. average; lower is cheaper. Green = the better of the two.
To live the way $100,000 does in Vermont, you'd need about $93,000 in Maine.
To live the way $100,000 does in Maine, you'd need about $107,500 in Vermont.
Based on each state's BLISS cost score. See your real after-tax paycheck in each state below.
Enter your salary and get your actual paycheck after Vermont taxes.
Calculate my take-home pay ›Enter your salary and get your actual paycheck after Maine taxes.
Calculate my take-home pay ›Maine is cheaper. Its cost of living is about 7% lower, reflected in a BLISS score of 1.13 versus 1.21. A lower BLISS score means your paycheck goes further.
On our Best Life Rank, which balances cost against climate, healthcare, schools, safety, economy and air quality, Vermont ranks higher (#21 vs #25). But 'better' depends on your priorities — Vermont leads on safety while Maine leads on safety.
Because of the cost-of-living difference, $100,000 in Vermont is roughly equivalent to $93,000 in Maine for the same lifestyle. See each state's real after-tax take-home pay with our paycheck guides linked above.