Maine Local Expert
Greg Reid
“I moved to Maine before it was trendy, stayed when it got crowded, and 28 years later I still love…”
Read more about me
Leaving Maine for Georgia: Was It Worth It?
Swapping Maine's rocky coastlines and frigid winters for Georgia's red clay roads and Southern heat is a bigger lifestyle leap than most people anticipate. The two states sit on opposite ends of the East Coast in more ways than one, from the pace of daily life to the cost of living and the climate you wake up to every morning. Lobster shacks give way to barbecue joints, and the quiet of a Maine winter morning looks nothing like a humid Georgia afternoon in July. Our Snappy Scout team (Greg & Sabrina) dug into the costs, logistics, and culture shifts you need to know before loading up the moving truck.
Our Local Experts Guiding Your Move
How to Drive from Maine to GA with a Moving Truck
Average distance
1,350miles
Typical route
I-95 S and I-85 S are the major highways you'd drive to get from Maine to Georgia
Popular moving routes (approx. driving distance):
Portland, ME → Atlanta, GA
~1350 miles
Bangor, ME → Atlanta, GA
~1450 miles
Augusta, ME → Savannah, GA
~1350 miles
Portland, ME → Savannah, GA
~1300 miles
Lewiston, ME → Augusta, GA
~1300 miles
Decoding the Cost of a Maine to GA Cross-State Move
Moving 1,350 miles from Maine to Georgia will typically cost between $2,500.00 and $4,000.00 to hire full service movers. See the breakdown below by home size.
Expected Range
$2,500.00–$4,000.00
Expected Time
4–11days
Cost by home size
Studio
$1,080.00
1 Bedroom
$1,590.00
2 Bedrooms
$2,610.00
3 Bedrooms
$3,770.00
4 Bedrooms
$5,400.00
5+ Bedrooms
$5,990.00
| Home Size | Moving Cost | Volume (ft³) | $/ft³ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,080.00 | 300 | $3.6 |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,590.00 | 450 | $3.53 |
| 2 Bedrooms | $2,610.00 | 750 | $3.48 |
| 3 Bedrooms | $3,770.00 | 1,100 | $3.43 |
| 4 Bedrooms | $5,400.00 | 1,600 | $3.38 |
| 5+ Bedrooms | $5,990.00 | 1,800 | $3.33 |
How we calculated these numbers: We reached out to the owners and operators of more than a dozen nationwide moving companies to figure out how they factor in mileage, weight, volume, timing, origin & termination locations, and approximate home sizes to determine a moving estimate. The results above are what the data nerds at Snappy Scout created based on that info.
How Well Will You Acclimate in GA?
Well, it depends. If you're a PTA President, College Student, or Stay at Home Mom, you'll thrive in your move to Georgia. But if you're more of a Minimalist, Adventure Junkie, or Hipster, settling into your new home state may be a bit of a challenge. We scored a variety of different “personalities” on a 10-point scale to show you what to expect from a lifestyle perspective with a relocation from Maine to Georgia.
Top 3 winners and losers moving from ME to GA
PTA Life
Maine
6.5
/10
Georgia
8.5
/10
Maine
Giving up
Beach to Beacon 10K, Yarmouth Clam Festival, Falmouth Fall Classic.
Georgia
Gaining
Top schools, community events, parent networks thrive here
Recommended GA cities/areas for PTA Presidents
MariettaMiltonMadison
Maine
6.5
/10
Georgia
8.5
/10
University Life
Maine
8
/10
Georgia
9.5
/10
Maine
Giving up
UMaine hockey, Bowdoin quads, Colby museum free, UNE health sciences campus
Georgia
Gaining
UGA spirit, Georgia Tech innovation, Georgia Southern pride
Recommended GA cities/areas for College Students
AthensAtlantaStatesboro
Maine
8
/10
Georgia
9.5
/10
Stay At Home Moms
Maine
7
/10
Georgia
8.5
/10
Maine
Giving up
Top schools, Sea Dogs nights, easy beach days.
Georgia
Gaining
Family suburbs, golf cart paths, excellent school districts
Recommended GA cities/areas for Stay at Home Moms
Johns CreekAlpharettaPeachtree City
Maine
7
/10
Georgia
8.5
/10
Adventure Activities
Maine
9.5
/10
Georgia
7.5
/10
Maine
Giving up
Acadia hikes and Katahdin summit awaits
Georgia
Gaining
Appalachian Trail, Tallulah Gorge, Chattahoochee River whitewater thrills
Recommended GA cities/areas for Adventure Junkies
HelenBlue RidgeClayton
Maine
9.5
/10
Georgia
7.5
/10
Minimalism
Maine
7.5
/10
Georgia
5.5
/10
Maine
Giving up
Small spaces, clean lines, Casco Bay horizon clears clutter.
Georgia
Gaining
Midtown condos work, but Southern homes love their stuff
Recommended GA cities/areas for Minimalists
AtlantaSavannah
Maine
7.5
/10
Georgia
5.5
/10
Hipsters
Maine
8.5
/10
Georgia
7.5
/10
Maine
Giving up
Portland Flea For All, artists filling Biddeford mills.
Georgia
Gaining
Vintage shops, Starlight Drive-In, indie music venues everywhere
Recommended GA cities/areas for Hipsters
East Atlanta VillageLittle Five Points
Maine
8.5
/10
Georgia
7.5
/10
Local Perspective
What moment, smell, or ritual captures the soul of Georgia?
In the early spring, yellow daffodils begin to pop up along every roadway and yard. It makes me know that t-shirt and shorts weather is just around the corner.
– Sabrina Wells
Georgia Local
Lifestyle differences between living in Maine and living in Georgia
MaineGeorgia
The Local Food Differences Between Maine and GA
Eating Like a Local in Maine
Forget your grinder, sub sandwich, or hoagie. This form of nourishment is called "an Italian." Hot or cold. Open-faced or closed. It's an Italian. Meatball sandwich? Meatball Italian. Veggie grinder? Veggie Italian. Italian sub? You guessed it: Italian Italian.
Greg ReidMaine Local ExpertEating Like a Local in Georgia
If Brunswick Stew is on the menu, don't hesitate to order it. And if it's got a bit of heat to it even better, but if not they're sure to have a variety of hot sauces available to spice it up.
Sabrina WellsGeorgia Local ExpertMaine vs GA: What Shakes Out on Your Tax Return
Maine
Georgia
MainevsGeorgia
State Income Tax
State Income TaxProgressive 5.8% to 7.15% brackets
Flat 5.49% on all income
Maine
Progressive 5.8% to 7.15% brackets
VS
Georgia
Flat 5.49% on all income
Property Taxes
Property TaxesHighest around Portland and coastal towns, lower in Aroostook, Piscataquis, interior
Metro Atlanta higher, rural counties lower, overall moderate statewide
Maine
Highest around Portland and coastal towns, lower in Aroostook, Piscataquis, interior
VS
Georgia
Metro Atlanta higher, rural counties lower, overall moderate statewide
How Maine and GA Break Down on Values, Beliefs, & Politics
Maine
Georgia
MainevsGeorgia
People
PeopleYankee reserved but welcoming, wicked helpful, blunt yet kind, tight community vibes, year round hardy
Southern charm personified, warm hospitality with genuine politeness baked in until they get on 285
Maine
Yankee reserved but welcoming, wicked helpful, blunt yet kind, tight community vibes, year round hardy
VS
Georgia
Southern charm personified, warm hospitality with genuine politeness baked in until they get on 285
Politics
Independent streak, split tickets, cities blue, rural red, first to adopt ranked choice
Purple battleground, Atlanta and it's surrounding counties learn strong blue, surrounded by a sea of red
Maine
Independent streak, split tickets, cities blue, rural red, first to adopt ranked choice
VS
Georgia
Purple battleground, Atlanta and it's surrounding counties learn strong blue, surrounded by a sea of red
Religion
ReligionMostly Christian, many unaffiliated, Catholic pockets in Portland and Lewiston, small Jewish and Muslim communities
Predominantly Christian, heavy Baptist influence, Atlanta brings religious diversity
Maine
Mostly Christian, many unaffiliated, Catholic pockets in Portland and Lewiston, small Jewish and Muslim communities
VS
Georgia
Predominantly Christian, heavy Baptist influence, Atlanta brings religious diversity
How the Seasons Stack Up Between Maine and GA
SUMMER
Maine
beach day needs a hoodie (sea breeze chills the coast, inland towns flirt with ninety)
Georgia
satan's sauna setting (90s with bonus swamp air)
WINTER
Maine
nostril freezing theater (Aroostook goes full deep freeze, Portland stays slushy and stubborn)
Georgia
negotiable flannel season (mountains get actual snow)
My Favorite Thing About Winter/Spring/Summer/Fall in Georgia
Late spring in Savannah, the weather is perfect, warm but not hot and low humidity. The town is alive with locals, not tourists, and it's a downright pleasant stroll through the haunted graveyards.
Sabrina WellsGeorgia Local ExpertNext Steps
Learn More About Moving to Georgia
By now, you're hopefully fully aware that at Snappy Scout, our moving guides aren't like the rest! Now that you've compared the aspects of leaving behind Maine, take a deeper dive into the specifics of moving to Georgia. No boring census stats... we promise! Just practical real advice from Georgia local experts.
