Living Cost Compare
Bangor

Maine

$1,210/mo est.

vs
Bridgeport

Connecticut

$1,440/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 $1,440 in Bridgeport, CT. Overall, Bangor, ME is roughly 16% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bridgeport, CT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,096 in Bangor, ME and $56,584 in Bridgeport, CT — about 3% higher in Bangor, ME. Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax.

Bangor, ME
Bridgeport, CT

Rent

Studio
$800
$950
+19% in Bridgeport, CT
1 Bedroom
$889
$1,181
+33% in Bridgeport, CT
2 Bedroom
$1,136
$1,508
+33% in Bridgeport, CT
3 Bedroom
$1,224
$1,639
+34% in Bridgeport, CT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$206,300
$252,400
+22% in Bridgeport, CT

Income

Median Household Income
$58,096
$56,584
+3% in Bangor, ME
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,960
$61,470
+28% in Bridgeport, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
40.7 yr
36.4 yr
+4.3 yr in Bangor, ME
Homeownership
46.9%
43.3%
+3.6 pp in Bangor, ME
Bachelor's+ (25+)
36.3%
23.1%
+13.2 pp in Bangor, ME
Avg Commute
17.0 min
29.9 min
+12.9 min in Bridgeport, CT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
161.4
401.7
+149% in Bridgeport, CT
Property Crime
4,259.8
1,478.4
+65% 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
52.5°F
+8.2°F in Bridgeport, CT
Annual Precipitation
41.9 in
42.7 in
+0.8 in in Bridgeport, CT

Gas

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

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
29.6
24.3
+18% in Bangor, ME
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$31.62
$23.33
+26% in Bangor, ME

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.92
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.90
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.69
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (ME / CT)
5.5%
6.35%
+0.8 pp in CT
Income Tax (top rate)
7.15%
6.99%
+0.2 pp in ME

Bangor vs Bridgeport — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bangor or Bridgeport?
Bangor, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,210 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Bridgeport, CT's $1,440, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bangor than in Bridgeport?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Bangor versus $47,000 in Bridgeport.
Which has lower taxes, Bangor or Bridgeport?
Bangor is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Bridgeport under Connecticut's (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% 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).