Is it cheaper to live in Bangor or Eugene?

Bangor, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,210 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Eugene, OR's $1,260, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Bangor versus $43,000 in Eugene.

Which has lower taxes, Bangor or Eugene?

Bangor is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Eugene under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax).

Bangor vs Eugene Cost of Living 2026

Bangor

Maine

$1,210/mo est.

Eugene

Oregon

$1,260/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 $1,260 in Eugene, OR. Overall, Bangor, ME is roughly 4% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Eugene, OR, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,096 in Bangor, ME and $63,836 in Eugene, OR — about 9% higher in Eugene, OR. Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax.

Bangor, ME

Eugene, OR

Rent

Studio

$800

$1,011

+26% in Eugene, OR

1 Bedroom

$889

$1,080

+21% in Eugene, OR

2 Bedroom

$1,136

$1,411

+24% in Eugene, OR

3 Bedroom

$1,224

$1,674

+37% in Eugene, OR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$206,300

$435,400

+111% in Eugene, OR

Income

Median Household Income

$58,096

$63,836

+10% in Eugene, OR

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$47,960

$49,680

+4% in Eugene, OR

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

40.7 yr

35.4 yr

+5.3 yr in Bangor, ME

Homeownership

46.9%

47.6%

+0.7 pp in Eugene, OR

Bachelor's+ (25+)

36.3%

44.2%

+7.9 pp in Eugene, OR

Avg Commute

17.0 min

18.6 min

+1.6 min in Eugene, OR

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

161.4

319.6

+98% in Eugene, OR

Property Crime

4,259.8

3,348.9

+21% 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

52.5°F

+8.2°F in Eugene, OR

Annual Precipitation

41.9 in

46.1 in

+4.2 in in Eugene, OR

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$5.21/gal

+32% in Eugene, OR

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

29.6

16.3

+45% in Bangor, ME

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$31.62

$21.60

+32% in Bangor, ME

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Eugene, OR

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$2.04

+6% in Eugene, OR

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$7.36

+7% in Eugene, OR

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 / OR)

5.5%

None

+5.5 pp in ME

Income Tax (top rate)

7.15%

9.90%

+2.8 pp in OR

Bangor vs Eugene — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bangor or Eugene?: Bangor, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,210 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Eugene, OR's $1,260, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bangor than in Eugene?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Bangor versus $43,000 in Eugene.
Which has lower taxes, Bangor or Eugene?: Bangor is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Eugene under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no 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).