Is it cheaper to live in Bangor or Charleston?

Bangor, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,210 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 25% below Charleston, SC's $1,620, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Bangor versus $57,000 in Charleston.

Which has lower taxes, Bangor or Charleston?

Bangor is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Charleston under South Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax).

Bangor vs Charleston Cost of Living 2026

Bangor

Maine

$1,210/mo est.

Charleston

South Carolina

$1,620/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 $1,620 in Charleston, SC. Overall, Bangor, ME is roughly 25% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Charleston, SC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,096 in Bangor, ME and $90,038 in Charleston, SC — about 35% higher in Charleston, SC. Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax; South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax.

Bangor, ME

Charleston, SC

Rent

Studio

$800

$1,579

+97% in Charleston, SC

1 Bedroom

$889

$1,430

+61% in Charleston, SC

2 Bedroom

$1,136

$1,684

+48% in Charleston, SC

3 Bedroom

$1,224

$2,076

+70% in Charleston, SC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$206,300

$469,100

+127% in Charleston, SC

Income

Median Household Income

$58,096

$90,038

+55% in Charleston, SC

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$47,960

$49,150

+2% in Charleston, SC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

40.7 yr

36.1 yr

+4.6 yr in Bangor, ME

Homeownership

46.9%

55.6%

+8.7 pp in Charleston, SC

Bachelor's+ (25+)

36.3%

57.7%

+21.4 pp in Charleston, SC

Avg Commute

17.0 min

23.8 min

+6.8 min in Charleston, SC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

161.4

358.8

+122% in Charleston, SC

Property Crime

4,259.8

2,035.1

+52% 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

66.7°F

+22.4°F in Charleston, SC

Annual Precipitation

41.9 in

44.4 in

+2.5 in in Charleston, SC

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

29.6

15.6

+47% in Bangor, ME

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$31.62

$29.07

+8% 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 Charleston, SC

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 / SC)

5.5%

+0.5 pp in SC

Income Tax (top rate)

7.15%

6.00%

+1.2 pp in ME

Bangor vs Charleston — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bangor or Charleston?: Bangor, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,210 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 25% below Charleston, SC's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bangor than in Charleston?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Bangor versus $57,000 in Charleston.
Which has lower taxes, Bangor or Charleston?: Bangor is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Charleston under South Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% 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).