Salary comparison
Bartenders: Kingston vs Portland
Portland, ME pays about 13.4% more for bartenders on paper — $54,170 vs $47,760. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, Portland comes out ahead by $6,410 a year in real buying power.
Kingston, NY
$47,760
$36,040
$64,120
$22.96
100
$47,760/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
Portland, ME
$54,170
$34,910
$76,850
$26.04
100
$54,170/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
What the numbers mean in practice
The headline gap is $6,410 a year (13.4%) in favor of Portland. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.
Kingston runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; Portland sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, Portland is the better deal by $6,410 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.
If you are weighing a move from Kingston to Portland for this role, the raise needs to beat 13.4% to come out ahead after living costs. Anything below that and you are earning more on paper but keeping less.
Common questions
Where do bartenders earn more, Kingston or Portland?
Portland pays $54,170 on median — about 13.4% more than Kingston ($47,760). Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Which city is the better deal after living costs?
Portland. Once you divide each median by the local cost index, Portland gives you roughly$54,170 of real buying power versus $47,760 in the other city.