Is Bangor expensive to live in?

Bangor is around the middle of the 158 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $889 per month ranks #107 of 158 and is 15% lower than the $1,043 median.

What is the average rent in Bangor?

Average rent in Bangor, ME runs a studio around $800, a one-bedroom around $889, a two-bedroom around $1,136, a three-bedroom around $1,224 per month (US Census ACS).

How much do you need to earn to live in Bangor?

To keep a one-bedroom rent of $889 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year. The median household income here is $58,096.

How much does it cost to live in Bangor per month?

A rough monthly baseline for one person in Bangor is about $1,210 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Cost of Living in Bangor, ME

Population 31,663 · Maine

~$1,210/mo est.1BR $889Home $206,300

Compare with:

The cost of living in Bangor, ME is driven mostly by housing. A one-bedroom apartment rents for around $889 a month — 15% lower than the $1,043 median across the 158 large US cities we track. Studios average $800 and two-bedrooms $1,136.

Median household income here is $58,096, 14% lower than the $67,696 median of the cities we track. Adding typical electricity and heating to one-bedroom rent, a rough monthly baseline for one person is about $1,210 before food and transport. Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Rent1BR $889

Studio

$800

1 Bedroom

$889

2 Bedroom

$1,136

3 Bedroom

$1,224

Buying a Home$206,300

Median Home Value

$206,300

Income$58,096

Median Household Income

$58,096

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$47,960

Household income: Census ACS, city. Metro median wage: BLS OEWS, all occupations, 2025 (metro area).

GroceriesNortheast

Milk (gal)

$4.31

Bread (lb)

$1.92

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

Average prices, Northeast (BLS, 2026-07-01). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

Utilities29.6¢/kWh

Electricity

29.6¢/kWh

Natural Gas

$31.62/MCF

Residential, state-level averages (EIA, 2026-06-01). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Gas$3.94/gal

Regular Gasoline (East Coast (PADD 1))

$3.94/gal

EIA weekly retail average, week of 2026-08-31.

State Taxes (ME)5.5% sales

State Sales Tax

5.50%

State Income Tax (top rate)

Up to 7.15%

State-level rates. Local sales taxes may add more. Income tax shown is the top marginal rate; most filers pay less.

Crime161.4 violent

Violent Crime (per 100k/yr)

161.4

Property Crime (per 100k/yr)

4,259.8

FBI Crime Data Explorer, Bangor Police Department (2024). Offenses per 100,000 residents per year. Agency reporting practices vary, so cross-city comparisons are approximate.

People & LifestyleAge 40.7 yrs

Median Age

40.7 yrs

Homeownership

46.9%

Bachelor's+ (25+)

36.3%

Avg Commute

17.0 min

Climate44.3°F

Avg Annual Temperature

44.3°F

Annual Precipitation

41.9 in

Bangor cost of living — FAQ

Is Bangor expensive to live in?: Bangor is around the middle of the 158 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $889 per month ranks #107 of 158 and is 15% lower than the $1,043 median.
What is the average rent in Bangor?: Average rent in Bangor, ME runs a studio around $800, a one-bedroom around $889, a two-bedroom around $1,136, a three-bedroom around $1,224 per month (US Census ACS).
How much do you need to earn to live in Bangor?: To keep a one-bedroom rent of $889 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year. The median household income here is $58,096.
How much does it cost to live in Bangor per month?: A rough monthly baseline for one person in Bangor is about $1,210 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Compare Bangor with nearby cities

Bangor vs Lewiston Bangor vs Portland Bangor vs Concord Bangor vs Manchester Bangor vs Nashua Bangor vs Boston

Nearby cities

Lewiston, ME 86 mi Portland, ME 108 mi Concord, NH 176 mi Manchester, NH 183 mi Nashua, NH 194 mi Boston, MA 204 mi

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981-2010 (climate); EIA (gas, utilities); BLS Average Price Data (groceries) & OEWS (metro wage); transit agencies (fares); FBI Crime Data Explorer (crime); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes). Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + utilities; not a full cost of living.