How much does it cost to live in Maine?
Home to 1.341 Million citizens, Maine has one of the highest costs of living of most of the United States and stands on the 12th highest overall cost of living among the states to be precise. According to the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center's Composite Cost of Living Index, Maine has a cost of living that is 15.0 % higher than the national average.
Cost of Living Parameters
Housing & Rent
On average, Maine renters pay $831 per month, $192 less than the national average of $1,023. If you want to buy a house in the state, the typical home value is $184,500, which is dramatically less than the national median home value of $408,800.
Here are some stats on Maine Mortgages:
- Homeownership rate: 75.7%
- Homeowner vacancy rate: 0.8%
- Rental vacancy rate: 2.6%
Childcare
In Maine, the average yearly cost of infant care is $9,449, or $787 per month. A 4-year-child old's care costs $8,292, or $691 each month. In Maine, infant care costs only $215 (2.2%) less than in-state tuition for a four-year public college.
Here’s a look at the annual childcare costs from infant to college:
- Infant: $9,449
- 4-year-old: $8,292
- School: $22,8982
- College: $9,664
Utilities
Apartment utilities refer to the essential services required in a home such as gas, water, electricity, cable, and internet. A Maine resident can expect to spend up to $438 per month on apartment utilities on average.
Food & Groceries
A single adult in Maine spends an average of $3,736 on food each year, while a family of four's annual food cost reaches $10,551. These figures are based on a nutritionally appropriate diet purchased from a grocery shop and prepared at home.
The average price for eating out would be:
- A basic meal with a drink at an inexpensive restaurant $15
- A three-course meal $60
- Fast food combo (Big Mac etc.) $10
- Bottle of Coca-Cola $2.08
- Bottle of water $1.93
Grocery shopping in the state would cost as follows:
- Milk (regular), (1 liter) $1.13
- Loaf of fresh white bread (500g) $3.69
- Rice (1 Kg) $8.08
- Eggs (regular) (12)$2.58
- Chicken fillet (1kg) $10.75
- Beef round (1kg) $15.43
- Hair shampoo $7.81
- Cold medicine $6.99
Transportation
Commuters in Maine drive to work at a rate of 88.1 %, compared to 85.5% nationally. The average motorist in the state drives 11,039 miles per year. Taking into account average fuel economy and average gas prices (standard gasoline costs an average of $2.22 per gallon in Maine in mid-2020), the average Maine motorist can expect to spend $1,012 on gas alone in a year.
Other transportation costs, such as car insurance prices, also differ from state to state. According to Insure.com, the average vehicle insurance rate in Maine is $1,453, which is less than the national average of $1,517. According to EPI data, the average single adult in the state spends $10,618 on transportation each year.
Average Income & Taxes
The average yearly income of a single adult living in Maine is $57,8853 and the estimated state income tax is $2,8124
Most expensive Maine cities to live in
- Portland
- South Portland
- Biddeford
- Saco
- Hallowell
Why is disability insurance important to have in Maine?
As shown by the above cost of living breakdown, a steady income is required to live comfortably and worry-free. But sometimes you find yourself unable to work due to some sort of emergency, illness or accident. Whether you are a full-time employee or a freelancer, getting disability insurance is the first step towards financial stability and peace of mind.
What would happen if you found yourself unable to earn a paycheck because you were too ill or injured to work? According to a recent survey conducted by the personal financial website Bankrate, more than half of Americans (51%) have less than three months' worth of emergency funds.
Medical bills are reported to be the number one cause of U.S. bankruptcies. One study has claimed that medical issues caused 62.1% of bankruptcies. Other studies show that over 2 million people are adversely affected by their medical expenses.
If medical bills start piling up, you’ll no longer be able to support your lifestyle in other areas as well, especially if your income is on hold. You might find yourself unable to pay for utilities and rent, and that eventually could lead to foreclosure. Half of the foreclosures on conventional mortgages in Maine are caused by the disability of one of the homeowners. In fact, the foreclosure rate in the state reaches one in every 4,399 homes.
A lot of people still think that the need for disability insurance is not top priority, thinking that disability rarely happens, and when it does, it’s only caused by serious accidents. But did you know that up to 90% of disability cases recorded are due to illness, not injury?
With that being said, getting a private disability income insurance should be on top of your to-do list because life is unpredictable but your income shouldn’t be.
Does Maine have state disability insurance?
Only 5 states in the U.S. require companies to provide their employees with disability insurance coverage that includes benefits for accidents or illnesses sustained outside of the workplace. Unfortunately, Maine is not among these states.
Only workplace accidents in Maine are covered by worker's compensation insurance, therefore you won't be able to use a state policy to cover those kinds of medical expenses.
If you live in Maine and are unable to work due to a disability, disease, or debilitating condition, you may be eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. Even though SSDI is a federal program, Maine administers it through its own state office, which is responsible for both evaluating eligibility and issuing benefit payments to Maine citizens.
You have the right to appeal a decision made in connection with your SSDI disability claim. In Maine, almost 56% of people applying for SSDI benefits had their initial applications denied.
What qualifies as disability in Maine?
If you have disability insurance provided by your employer, make sure to double-check the criteria in the agreement that qualify you to receive disability benefits when you’re unable to work. Some of these criteria can include the following:
- You are unable to perform the Substantial and Material Duties of your Regular Occupation as shown on the Schedule and;
- You are under the Regular Care of a Physician appropriate for your disabling Sickness or Injury and;
- There is no reasonable simplified worksite modification(s) that would allow you to perform one or more of the Substantial and Material Duties of your regular job.
How can I easily get disability insurance in Maine?
Seeking a private disability insurance policy is the best option in Maine. Here at Asteya, we offer disability insurance (or disability income insurance as we like to call it) that’s simple, fast, and affordable. Our 100% digital process means we don’t tire you out with proof of income, medical exams, phone interviews, or wait times. Click here to get a quote, or contact us for any inquiries.
Who qualifies for disability insurance in Maine?
Most insurances are bought to protect homes, vehicles, and health, but our most valuable asset tends to get neglected: our income. 70% of working Americans live paycheck to paycheck, with little savings to buffer the financial burden of a disability that leaves them unable to work.
At Asteya, we offer a variety of disability income insurance policies. Please visit asteya.world for more details on the eligibility of our product offering.
How much does disability insurance in Maine cost?
Protecting your income shouldn’t be a luxury, so here at Asteya, we’ve created affordable and easy solutions that won’t drain what you’re trying to protect (your income!). Our prices start as low as:
- Permanent Disability Income Insurance: starting at $6.05/month
- Sickness & Injury Disability Income Insurance: starting at $5/month
The bottom line
On average, living in the state of Maine will cost you $2586 per month, give or take – that’s a lot of expenses! You've invested a lot of time and hard work in building a life that works for you, and your hard work should not go to waste due to an accident or illness. That’s why you should protect your lifestyle and your income with DI.
If you're still on the fence about whether disability income insurance is for you (hint: it is), here are a few extra points to consider:
- Asteya’s applications are 100% digital . We don't require blood tests or doctor's appointments, unlike other insurers and we'll just ask you a few minutes of questions to determine your best policy.
- Get paid out directly on an approved claim, and spend without restrictions once it's in your bank account.
- We've made our Income Insurance as inclusive and accessible as possible. From corner store employee to corner office executive, our products were created to fit every budget and lifestyle.