Living Cost Compare
Bangor

Maine

$1,210/mo est.

vs
Cambridge

Massachusetts

$2,810/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 $2,810 in Cambridge, MA. Overall, Bangor, ME is roughly 57% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Cambridge, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,096 in Bangor, ME and $126,469 in Cambridge, MA — about 54% higher in Cambridge, MA. Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Bangor, ME
Cambridge, MA

Rent

Studio
$800
$2,236
+180% in Cambridge, MA
1 Bedroom
$889
$2,496
+181% in Cambridge, MA
2 Bedroom
$1,136
$2,980
+162% in Cambridge, MA
3 Bedroom
$1,224
$3,325
+172% in Cambridge, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$206,300
$1,040,500
+404% in Cambridge, MA

Income

Median Household Income
$58,096
$126,469
+118% in Cambridge, MA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,960
$66,620
+39% in Cambridge, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
40.7 yr
30.5 yr
+10.2 yr in Bangor, ME
Homeownership
46.9%
33.7%
+13.2 pp in Bangor, ME
Bachelor's+ (25+)
36.3%
80.2%
+43.9 pp in Cambridge, MA
Avg Commute
17.0 min
26.1 min
+9.1 min in Cambridge, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
161.4
436.7
+171% in Cambridge, MA
Property Crime
4,259.8
2,657.6
+38% 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
51.5°F
+7.2°F in Cambridge, MA
Annual Precipitation
41.9 in
43.8 in
+1.8 in in Cambridge, MA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$4.07/gal
+3% in Cambridge, MA

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Massachusetts.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
29.6
29.6
+0% in Cambridge, MA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$31.62
$30.66
+3% 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 / MA)
5.5%
6.25%
+0.8 pp in MA
Income Tax (top rate)
7.15%
9.00%
+1.8 pp in MA

Bangor vs Cambridge — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bangor or Cambridge?
Bangor, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,210 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 57% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bangor than in Cambridge?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Bangor versus $100,000 in Cambridge.
Which has lower taxes, Bangor or Cambridge?
Bangor is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Cambridge under Massachusetts's (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% 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).