Is it cheaper to live in Bangor or Cincinnati?

Cincinnati, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Bangor, ME's $1,210, mainly because of electricity costs.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Bangor versus $33,000 in Cincinnati.

Which has lower taxes, Bangor or Cincinnati?

Bangor is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Cincinnati under Ohio's (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax).

Bangor vs Cincinnati Cost of Living 2026

Bangor

Maine

$1,210/mo est.

Cincinnati

Ohio

$1,030/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 $1,030 in Cincinnati, OH. Overall, Cincinnati, OH is roughly 15% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bangor, ME, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $58,096 in Bangor, ME and $51,707 in Cincinnati, OH — about 11% higher in Bangor, ME. Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax.

Bangor, ME

Cincinnati, OH

Rent

Studio

$800

$791

+1% in Bangor, ME

1 Bedroom

$889

$817

+8% in Bangor, ME

2 Bedroom

$1,136

$1,023

+10% in Bangor, ME

3 Bedroom

$1,224

$1,228

+0% in Cincinnati, OH

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$206,300

$215,300

+4% in Cincinnati, OH

Income

Median Household Income

$58,096

$51,707

+11% in Bangor, ME

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$47,960

$50,170

+5% in Cincinnati, OH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

40.7 yr

33.0 yr

+7.7 yr in Bangor, ME

Homeownership

46.9%

38.9%

+8.0 pp in Bangor, ME

Bachelor's+ (25+)

36.3%

41.3%

+5.0 pp in Cincinnati, OH

Avg Commute

17.0 min

23.1 min

+6.1 min in Cincinnati, OH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

161.4

856.5

+431% in Cincinnati, OH

Property Crime

4,259.8

3,877.7

+9% 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

54.3°F

+10.0°F in Cincinnati, OH

Annual Precipitation

41.9 in

about equal

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.80/gal

+4% in Bangor, ME

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Ohio.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

29.6

19.2

+35% in Bangor, ME

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$31.62

$22.83

+28% in Bangor, ME

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$1.66

+14% in Bangor, ME

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$3.63

+66% in Cincinnati, OH

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$6.77

+2% in Bangor, ME

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$2.10

+4% in Bangor, ME

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.62

+11% in Bangor, ME

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (ME / OH)

5.5%

5.75%

+0.3 pp in OH

Income Tax (top rate)

7.15%

2.75%

+4.4 pp in ME

Bangor vs Cincinnati — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bangor or Cincinnati?: Cincinnati, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Bangor, ME's $1,210, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bangor than in Cincinnati?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Bangor versus $33,000 in Cincinnati.
Which has lower taxes, Bangor or Cincinnati?: Bangor is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Cincinnati under Ohio's (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% 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).