Is it cheaper to live in Bangor or Houston?

Bangor, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,210 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Houston, TX's $1,360, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Bangor versus $46,000 in Houston.

Which has lower taxes, Bangor or Houston?

Bangor is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Houston under Texas's (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Bangor vs Houston Cost of Living 2026

Bangor

Maine

$1,210/mo est.

Houston

Texas

$1,360/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 $1,360 in Houston, TX. Overall, Bangor, ME is roughly 11% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Houston, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,096 in Bangor, ME and $62,894 in Houston, TX — about 8% higher in Houston, 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

Houston, TX

Rent

Studio

$800

$1,142

+43% in Houston, TX

1 Bedroom

$889

$1,156

+30% in Houston, TX

2 Bedroom

$1,136

$1,375

+21% in Houston, TX

3 Bedroom

$1,224

$1,664

+36% in Houston, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$206,300

$253,400

+23% in Houston, TX

Income

Median Household Income

$58,096

$62,894

+8% in Houston, TX

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$47,960

$49,410

+3% in Houston, TX

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

40.7 yr

34.3 yr

+6.4 yr in Bangor, ME

Homeownership

46.9%

42.0%

+4.9 pp in Bangor, ME

Bachelor's+ (25+)

36.3%

36.0%

+0.3 pp in Bangor, ME

Avg Commute

17.0 min

27.3 min

+10.3 min in Houston, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

161.4

1,153.8

+615% in Houston, TX

Property Crime

4,259.8

4,324.9

+2% in Houston, TX

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

70.3°F

+26.0°F in Houston, TX

Annual Precipitation

41.9 in

54.6 in

+12.7 in in Houston, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.52/gal

+11% in Bangor, ME

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Houston.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$1.25

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

29.6

15.9

+46% in Bangor, ME

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$31.62

$31.89

+1% in Houston, 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 Houston, 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 Houston — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bangor or Houston?: Bangor, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,210 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Houston, TX's $1,360, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bangor than in Houston?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Bangor versus $46,000 in Houston.
Which has lower taxes, Bangor or Houston?: Bangor is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Houston 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).