Is it cheaper to live in Bangor or Birmingham?

Birmingham, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,190 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Bangor, ME's $1,210, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Bangor than in Birmingham?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Bangor versus $40,000 in Birmingham.

Which has lower taxes, Bangor or Birmingham?

Bangor is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Birmingham under Alabama's (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax).

Bangor vs Birmingham Cost of Living 2026

Bangor

Maine

$1,210/mo est.

Birmingham

Alabama

$1,190/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 $1,190 in Birmingham, AL. Overall, Birmingham, AL is roughly 2% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bangor, ME, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,096 in Bangor, ME and $44,376 in Birmingham, AL — about 24% higher in Bangor, ME. Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax.

Bangor, ME

Birmingham, AL

Rent

Studio

$800

$857

+7% in Birmingham, AL

1 Bedroom

$889

$1,004

+13% in Birmingham, AL

2 Bedroom

$1,136

$1,005

+12% in Bangor, ME

3 Bedroom

$1,224

$1,188

+3% in Bangor, ME

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$206,300

$138,600

+33% in Bangor, ME

Income

Median Household Income

$58,096

$44,376

+24% in Bangor, ME

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$47,960

$47,770

+0% in Bangor, ME

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

40.7 yr

35.9 yr

+4.8 yr in Bangor, ME

Homeownership

46.9%

45.1%

+1.8 pp in Bangor, ME

Bachelor's+ (25+)

36.3%

30.7%

+5.6 pp in Bangor, ME

Avg Commute

17.0 min

21.5 min

+4.5 min in Birmingham, AL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

161.4

1,274.7

+690% in Birmingham, AL

Property Crime

4,259.8

4,233

+1% 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

63.3°F

+19.0°F in Birmingham, AL

Annual Precipitation

41.9 in

53.7 in

+11.8 in in Birmingham, AL

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

16.4

+45% in Bangor, ME

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$31.62

$24.06

+24% 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 Birmingham, AL

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 / AL)

5.5%

+1.5 pp in ME

Income Tax (top rate)

7.15%

5.00%

+2.2 pp in ME

Bangor vs Birmingham — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bangor or Birmingham?: Birmingham, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,190 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Bangor, ME's $1,210, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bangor than in Birmingham?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Bangor versus $40,000 in Birmingham.
Which has lower taxes, Bangor or Birmingham?: Bangor is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Birmingham under Alabama's (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% 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).