Living Cost Compare
Bangor

Maine

$1,210/mo est.

vs
El Paso

Texas

$1,020/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 $1,020 in El Paso, TX. Overall, El Paso, TX is roughly 16% 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 $58,734 in El Paso, TX — about 1% higher in El Paso, TX. Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Bangor, ME
El Paso, TX

Rent

Studio
$800
$707
+12% in Bangor, ME
1 Bedroom
$889
$816
+8% in Bangor, ME
2 Bedroom
$1,136
$993
+13% in Bangor, ME
3 Bedroom
$1,224
$1,252
+2% in El Paso, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$206,300
$171,700
+17% in Bangor, ME

Income

Median Household Income
$58,096
$58,734
+1% in El Paso, TX
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,960
$39,510
+18% in Bangor, ME

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
40.7 yr
34.1 yr
+6.6 yr in Bangor, ME
Homeownership
46.9%
60.2%
+13.3 pp in El Paso, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
36.3%
27.5%
+8.8 pp in Bangor, ME
Avg Commute
17.0 min
23.7 min
+6.7 min in El Paso, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
161.4
319.7
+98% in El Paso, TX
Property Crime
4,259.8
1,509.3
+65% 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
64.6°F
+20.3°F in El Paso, TX
Annual Precipitation
41.9 in
9.7 in
+32.2 in in Bangor, ME

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.58/gal
+9% in Bangor, ME

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Texas.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.50

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
29.6
15.9
+46% in Bangor, ME
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$31.62
$31.89
+1% in El Paso, TX

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 El Paso, TX
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 / TX)
5.5%
6.25%
+0.8 pp in TX
Income Tax (top rate)
7.15%
None
+7.2 pp in ME

Bangor vs El Paso — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bangor or El Paso?
El Paso, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% 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 El Paso?
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 El Paso.
Which has lower taxes, Bangor or El Paso?
Bangor is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); El Paso under Texas's (no state income tax 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).