Cost of living in portland maine (South Portland, Scarborough: apartments, rentals, house)

[icelady]

Hi everyone
My son is in Portland Maine as I type this. He was offered a job as a bowling mechinic in Portland. He would start out at $15.00 an HR. He is now living in south palm bch fl. The cost of living is high and pay is very low. If he takes the job offer he will move at the end of June.

Is the cost of living very high in Portland and the surrounding areas? Also is there a state income tax? No state income tax in Fl. He will be renting an apt 2 bedroom and he has 1 dog 2 cats and a bird plus a girlfriend. What area would be the best for them?

Thanks everyone have a wonderful day.
Icelady

[island mermaid]

Originally Posted by icelady

Hi everyone
My son is in Portland Maine as I type this. He was offered a job as a bowling mechinic in Portland. He would start out at $15.00 an HR. He is now living in south palm bch fl. The cost of living is high and pay is very low. If he takes the job offer he will move at the end of June.

Is the cost of living very high in Portland and the surrounding areas? Also is there a state income tax? No state income tax in Fl. He will be renting an apt 2 bedroom and he has 1 dog 2 cats and a bird plus a girlfriend. What area would be the best for them?

Thanks everyone have a wonderful day.
Icelady

Depending upon where in WPB he was living, Portland housing will be more affordable. Especially if he is/was east of Rt 1.

Yes, Maine does have a state income tax.

He might find it a little difficult to find housing that will allow that many animals. I would suggest that he look outside of the city for perhaps a small house rental in a small rural town close to Portland. Craig's list will be his best bet.

[Maineah]

Get rid of the animals and put the girlfriend to work and his options will be much better. I don't get the fascination with having a personal zoo these days.

[icelady]

LOL I agree he should get rid of the animals. He won't. As for his girlfriend she does work. She is in costomer service. My son lives in Boca Raton Fl. I will text him concerning rentals outside of Portland. I know he did look on Craigs List before he left. I will tell him about the state income tax. Does anyone suggest which towns he should look at. My son only have the animals no kids. Thank god!!!!

Thanks for the help.

[Maineah]

We have hashed this question around here many times before. I'm all for pets but I OWN my home. Many landlords will put up with a single pet say a dog or a cat but will charge much more for security deposit as much as double PLUS $100.00 per pet. That's an extra $1400.00 up front on a $1000.00 per month rental in your son's situation. Many more landlords won't rent a place to you if you have pets period. People cry and moan and scream UNFAIR to the landlords for rejecting pets but pets do damage. Whether it's scratching up a floor or doors, tearing screens, urinating through a carpet, barking, chattering, or just basicilly stinking up the place damage is damage. When we owned apartments we would not allow pets and I know a number of landlords that won't rent to pet owners.

Your son can try the surrounding towns of Westbrook and South Portland. They are usually cheaper than Portland and not that far from town.

[icelady]

:Maineah thanks I guess hewill figure that out concerning all his pets. It will hit his pocket. and guess what i aint taken any of his pets. I have my own to worry about. i will text him and tell him about the towns now. Thanks again. Have a great day!

[GlR62]

I don't know anything about apartments allowing pets or not. But if he finds in town Portland to be too much money, he can easily look in South Portland, Scarborough, Westbrook, etc. There are many areas that are a close drive. I imagine it will be much cheaper than WPB. But in general the cost of living in Maine is high, as it is on most the east coast.

[island mermaid]

Originally Posted by icelady

My son lives in Boca Raton Fl. I will text him concerning rentals outside of Portland. I know he did look on Craigs List before he left. Does anyone suggest which towns he should look at.
Thanks for the help.

Again, living in Boca is pretty expensive if he is close to A1A. I'm assuming he was west of 95, in that case the housing costs will be comparable.

How far is he willing to travel to work? Take into consideration that traffic here will NOT be close to anything in WPB. People here usually drive in a more civilized manor.

Our traffic jams are more like 5 people waiting at a red light and Rt 295 here is only 2 lanes as opposed to 6 in WPB.

[icelady]

Well im not sure about the drive. Im going to assume 1/2 hr or less. Because here it takes !/2 hr to go to the store which is not far. Its because of the traffic. Yes he lives in west boca palm bch county. gosh I cant believe your highway iare 2 lanes and drivers are civilized. I hope my son isnt honking and cursing there. lol. Its a normal routine here, sorry folks thats just how drivers drive in fl. By the way do you guys have a 212 area code

[lrfox]

Mermaid is perfect for comparisons as she is familiar with both areas. 1/2 hour commutes in Portland give you a choice of urban, suburban and rural settings. Obviously there are mote rentals in the urban and suburban areas, but you can find rural ones if you look.

All of Maine is area code 207. 212 is Manhattan, NY.