Living Cost Compare
Bangor

Maine

$1,210/mo est.

vs
Casper

Wyoming

$930/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 $930 in Casper, WY. Overall, Casper, WY is roughly 23% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bangor, ME, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,096 in Bangor, ME and $69,171 in Casper, WY — about 16% higher in Casper, WY. Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Wyoming has no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$800
$730
+9% in Bangor, ME
1 Bedroom
$889
$764
+14% in Bangor, ME
2 Bedroom
$1,136
$930
+18% in Bangor, ME
3 Bedroom
$1,224
$1,299
+6% in Casper, WY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$206,300
$250,700
+22% in Casper, WY

Income

Median Household Income
$58,096
$69,171
+19% in Casper, WY
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,960
$48,880
+2% in Casper, WY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
40.7 yr
37.0 yr
+3.7 yr in Bangor, ME
Homeownership
46.9%
70.3%
+23.4 pp in Casper, WY
Bachelor's+ (25+)
36.3%
30.0%
+6.3 pp in Bangor, ME
Avg Commute
17.0 min
16.9 min
+0.1 min in Bangor, ME

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
161.4
302.4
+87% in Casper, WY
Property Crime
4,259.8
2,123.8
+50% 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
45.4°F
+1.1°F in Casper, WY
Annual Precipitation
41.9 in
12.5 in
+29.4 in in Bangor, ME

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$4.27/gal
+8% in Casper, WY

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
29.6
15.2
+48% in Bangor, ME
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$31.62
$18.28
+42% in Bangor, ME

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.82
+12% in Casper, WY
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$2.04
+6% in Casper, WY
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$7.36
+7% in Casper, WY
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$2.01
+8% in Bangor, ME
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.70
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (ME / WY)
5.5%
4%
+1.5 pp in ME
Income Tax (top rate)
7.15%
None
+7.2 pp in ME

Bangor vs Casper — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bangor or Casper?
Casper, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $930 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 23% below Bangor, ME's $1,210, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bangor than in Casper?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Bangor versus $31,000 in Casper.
Which has lower taxes, Bangor or Casper?
Bangor is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Casper under Wyoming's (no state income tax 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).