Living Cost Compare
Atlanta

Georgia

$1,790/mo est.

vs
Bangor

Maine

$1,210/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,790 in Atlanta, GA versus $1,210 in Bangor, ME. Overall, Bangor, ME is roughly 32% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Atlanta, GA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $81,938 in Atlanta, GA and $58,096 in Bangor, ME — about 29% higher in Atlanta, GA. Georgia has a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax; Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$1,669
$800
+52% in Atlanta, GA
1 Bedroom
$1,576
$889
+44% in Atlanta, GA
2 Bedroom
$1,701
$1,136
+33% in Atlanta, GA
3 Bedroom
$1,557
$1,224
+21% in Atlanta, GA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$420,600
$206,300
+51% in Atlanta, GA

Income

Median Household Income
$81,938
$58,096
+29% in Atlanta, GA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,170
$47,960
+6% in Atlanta, GA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.0 yr
40.7 yr
+6.7 yr in Bangor, ME
Homeownership
46.3%
46.9%
+0.6 pp in Bangor, ME
Bachelor's+ (25+)
58.4%
36.3%
+22.1 pp in Atlanta, GA
Avg Commute
26.8 min
17.0 min
+9.8 min in Atlanta, GA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
603.7
161.4
+73% in Atlanta, GA
Property Crime
3,548.3
4,259.8
+20% in Bangor, ME

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
62.6°F
44.3°F
+18.3°F in Atlanta, GA
Annual Precipitation
49.7 in
41.9 in
+7.8 in in Atlanta, GA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.94/gal
about equal

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.50

Adult base one-way fare — MARTA vs (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.4
29.6
+81% in Bangor, ME
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$38.60
$31.62
+18% in Atlanta, GA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Bangor, ME
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.92
+10% in Bangor, ME
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Atlanta, GA
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.90
+7% in Bangor, ME
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.19
+15% in Bangor, ME
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in Bangor, ME

Average prices — South vs Northeast (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (GA / ME)
4%
5.5%
+1.5 pp in ME
Income Tax (top rate)
5.19%
7.15%
+2.0 pp in ME

Atlanta vs Bangor — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Atlanta or Bangor?
Bangor, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,210 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 32% below Atlanta, GA's $1,790, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Atlanta than in Bangor?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Atlanta versus $36,000 in Bangor.
Which has lower taxes, Atlanta or Bangor?
Atlanta is taxed under Georgia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax); Bangor under Maine's (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).