Is it cheaper to live in Bangor or Denver?

Bangor, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,210 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 31% below Denver, CO's $1,760, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Bangor versus $63,000 in Denver.

Which has lower taxes, Bangor or Denver?

Bangor is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Denver under Colorado's (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax).

Bangor vs Denver Cost of Living 2026

Bangor

Maine

$1,210/mo est.

Denver

Colorado

$1,760/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 $1,760 in Denver, CO. Overall, Bangor, ME is roughly 31% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Denver, CO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,096 in Bangor, ME and $91,681 in Denver, CO — about 37% higher in Denver, CO. Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax.

Bangor, ME

Denver, CO

Rent

Studio

$800

$1,497

+87% in Denver, CO

1 Bedroom

$889

$1,583

+78% in Denver, CO

2 Bedroom

$1,136

$1,958

+72% in Denver, CO

3 Bedroom

$1,224

$2,269

+85% in Denver, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$206,300

$586,700

+184% in Denver, CO

Income

Median Household Income

$58,096

$91,681

+58% in Denver, CO

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$47,960

$62,320

+30% in Denver, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

40.7 yr

35.2 yr

+5.5 yr in Bangor, ME

Homeownership

46.9%

49.1%

+2.2 pp in Denver, CO

Bachelor's+ (25+)

36.3%

55.6%

+19.3 pp in Denver, CO

Avg Commute

17.0 min

25.4 min

+8.4 min in Denver, CO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

161.4

999.3

+519% in Denver, CO

Property Crime

4,259.8

4,781.1

+12% in Denver, CO

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

50.2°F

+5.9°F in Denver, CO

Annual Precipitation

41.9 in

15.6 in

+26.4 in in Bangor, ME

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$4.16/gal

+6% in Denver, CO

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Denver.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.75

Adult base one-way fare — — vs RTD (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

29.6

17.1

+42% in Bangor, ME

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$31.62

$15.05

+52% in Bangor, ME

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Denver, CO

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$2.04

+6% in Denver, CO

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$7.36

+7% in Denver, CO

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 / CO)

5.5%

2.9%

+2.6 pp in ME

Income Tax (top rate)

7.15%

4.40%

+2.8 pp in ME

Bangor vs Denver — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bangor or Denver?: Bangor, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,210 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 31% below Denver, CO's $1,760, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bangor than in Denver?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Bangor versus $63,000 in Denver.
Which has lower taxes, Bangor or Denver?: Bangor is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Denver under Colorado's (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% 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).