Living Cost Compare
Bangor

Maine

$1,210/mo est.

vs
Baton Rouge

Louisiana

$1,000/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,210 in Bangor, ME versus $1,000 in Baton Rouge, LA. Overall, Baton Rouge, LA is roughly 17% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bangor, ME, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $58,096 in Bangor, ME and $49,944 in Baton Rouge, LA — about 14% higher in Bangor, ME. Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax.

Bangor, ME
Baton Rouge, LA

Rent

Studio
$800
$881
+10% in Baton Rouge, LA
1 Bedroom
$889
$854
+4% in Bangor, ME
2 Bedroom
$1,136
$1,075
+5% in Bangor, ME
3 Bedroom
$1,224
$1,241
+1% in Baton Rouge, LA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$206,300
$224,500
+9% in Baton Rouge, LA

Income

Median Household Income
$58,096
$49,944
+14% in Bangor, ME
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,960
$48,710
+2% in Baton Rouge, LA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
40.7 yr
31.8 yr
+8.9 yr in Bangor, ME
Homeownership
46.9%
46.9%
about equal
Bachelor's+ (25+)
36.3%
35.8%
+0.5 pp in Bangor, ME
Avg Commute
17.0 min
21.1 min
+4.1 min in Baton Rouge, LA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
161.4
305
+89% in Baton Rouge, LA
Property Crime
4,259.8
1,756.3
+59% 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
44.3°F
68.5°F
+24.2°F in Baton Rouge, LA
Annual Precipitation
41.9 in
60.6 in
+18.7 in in Baton Rouge, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.62/gal
+8% in Bangor, ME

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
29.6
13.5
+54% in Bangor, ME
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$31.62
$16.62
+47% in Bangor, ME

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Bangor, ME
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.75
+9% in Bangor, ME
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Baton Rouge, LA
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.45
+6% in Bangor, ME
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$1.90
+13% in Bangor, ME
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.62
+11% in Bangor, ME

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (ME / LA)
5.5%
5%
+0.5 pp in ME
Income Tax (top rate)
7.15%
3.00%
+4.2 pp in ME

Bangor vs Baton Rouge — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bangor or Baton Rouge?
Baton Rouge, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,000 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 17% below Bangor, ME's $1,210, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bangor than in Baton Rouge?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Bangor versus $34,000 in Baton Rouge.
Which has lower taxes, Bangor or Baton Rouge?
Bangor is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Baton Rouge under Louisiana's (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 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).