Is it cheaper to live in Bangor or Frederick?

Bangor, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,210 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 27% below Frederick, MD's $1,650, mainly because of rent.

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

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 Frederick.

Which has lower taxes, Bangor or Frederick?

Bangor is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Frederick under Maryland's (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax).

Bangor vs Frederick Cost of Living 2026

Bangor

Maine

$1,210/mo est.

Frederick

Maryland

$1,650/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 $1,650 in Frederick, MD. Overall, Bangor, ME is roughly 27% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Frederick, MD, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,096 in Bangor, ME and $95,150 in Frederick, MD — about 39% higher in Frederick, MD. Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Maryland has a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax.

Bangor, ME

Frederick, MD

Rent

Studio

$800

$1,658

+107% in Frederick, MD

1 Bedroom

$889

$1,418

+60% in Frederick, MD

2 Bedroom

$1,136

$1,661

+46% in Frederick, MD

3 Bedroom

$1,224

$1,863

+52% in Frederick, MD

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$206,300

$365,200

+77% in Frederick, MD

Income

Median Household Income

$58,096

$95,150

+64% in Frederick, MD

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$47,960

$71,060

+48% in Frederick, MD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

40.7 yr

37.1 yr

+3.6 yr in Bangor, ME

Homeownership

46.9%

59.2%

+12.3 pp in Frederick, MD

Bachelor's+ (25+)

36.3%

41.8%

+5.5 pp in Frederick, MD

Avg Commute

17.0 min

30.1 min

+13.1 min in Frederick, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

161.4

406

+152% in Frederick, MD

Property Crime

4,259.8

1,696.3

+60% 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

52.1°F

+7.8°F in Frederick, MD

Annual Precipitation

41.9 in

—

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

29.6

21.8

+26% in Bangor, ME

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$31.62

$22.57

+29% 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 Frederick, MD

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 / MD)

5.5%

+0.5 pp in MD

Income Tax (top rate)

7.15%

6.50%

+0.7 pp in ME

Bangor vs Frederick — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bangor or Frederick?: Bangor, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,210 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 27% below Frederick, MD's $1,650, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bangor than in Frederick?: 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 Frederick.
Which has lower taxes, Bangor or Frederick?: Bangor is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Frederick under Maryland's (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% 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).