Calais, ME vs Caribou, ME

Calais, ME and Caribou, ME have a very similar cost of living, with only a 4.4% difference in their overall index. Calais scores 69 while Caribou scores 66 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Calais is $815/month compared to $696/month in Caribou — a 17% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Caribou has cheaper rent, Calais actually has lower median home values ($111,800 vs $120,300).

Median household income in Calais is $48,654 compared to $54,271 in Caribou (-10.3%). Caribou offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Calais spend roughly 20.1% of their income on rent, more than the 15.4% in Caribou.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (40.7°F vs 40.7°F). Caribou receives more rainfall at 40.7" per year compared to 39.3" in Calais.