Is it cheaper to live in Bangor or Honolulu?

Bangor, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,210 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 44% below Honolulu, HI's $2,150, mainly because of rent.

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

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 Honolulu.

Which has lower taxes, Bangor or Honolulu?

Bangor is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Honolulu under Hawaii's (a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax).

Bangor vs Honolulu Cost of Living 2026

Bangor

Maine

$1,210/mo est.

Honolulu

Hawaii

$2,150/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 $2,150 in Honolulu, HI. Overall, Bangor, ME is roughly 44% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Honolulu, HI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,096 in Bangor, ME and $85,428 in Honolulu, HI — about 32% higher in Honolulu, HI. Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Hawaii has a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax.

Bangor, ME

Honolulu, HI

Rent

Studio

$800

$1,390

+74% in Honolulu, HI

1 Bedroom

$889

$1,570

+77% in Honolulu, HI

2 Bedroom

$1,136

$1,983

+75% in Honolulu, HI

3 Bedroom

$1,224

$2,433

+99% in Honolulu, HI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$206,300

$834,100

+304% in Honolulu, HI

Income

Median Household Income

$58,096

$85,428

+47% in Honolulu, HI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$47,960

$57,220

+19% in Honolulu, HI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

40.7 yr

42.9 yr

+2.2 yr in Honolulu, HI

Homeownership

46.9%

48.6%

+1.7 pp in Honolulu, HI

Bachelor's+ (25+)

36.3%

40.8%

+4.5 pp in Honolulu, HI

Avg Commute

17.0 min

22.3 min

+5.3 min in Honolulu, HI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

161.4

214.1

+33% in Honolulu, HI

Property Crime

4,259.8

1,919.8

+55% 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

77.7°F

+33.4°F in Honolulu, HI

Annual Precipitation

41.9 in

17.1 in

+24.8 in in Bangor, ME

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$5.21/gal

+32% in Honolulu, HI

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$3.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

29.6

52.7

+78% in Honolulu, HI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$31.62

$66.84

+111% in Honolulu, HI

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Honolulu, HI

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$2.04

+6% in Honolulu, HI

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$7.36

+7% in Honolulu, HI

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 / HI)

5.5%

+1.5 pp in ME

Income Tax (top rate)

7.15%

11.00%

+3.8 pp in HI

Bangor vs Honolulu — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bangor or Honolulu?: Bangor, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,210 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 44% below Honolulu, HI's $2,150, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bangor than in Honolulu?: 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 Honolulu.
Which has lower taxes, Bangor or Honolulu?: Bangor is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Honolulu under Hawaii's (a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% 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).