Living Cost Compare
Bangor

Maine

$1,210/mo est.

vs
Huntsville

Alabama

$1,090/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 $1,090 in Huntsville, AL. Overall, Huntsville, AL is roughly 10% 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 $70,778 in Huntsville, AL — about 18% higher in Huntsville, AL. Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax.

Bangor, ME
Huntsville, AL

Rent

Studio
$800
$815
+2% in Huntsville, AL
1 Bedroom
$889
$900
+1% in Huntsville, AL
2 Bedroom
$1,136
$1,080
+5% in Bangor, ME
3 Bedroom
$1,224
$1,251
+2% in Huntsville, AL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$206,300
$263,100
+28% in Huntsville, AL

Income

Median Household Income
$58,096
$70,778
+22% in Huntsville, AL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,960
$51,740
+8% in Huntsville, AL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
40.7 yr
36.4 yr
+4.3 yr in Bangor, ME
Homeownership
46.9%
58.1%
+11.2 pp in Huntsville, AL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
36.3%
46.2%
+9.9 pp in Huntsville, AL
Avg Commute
17.0 min
19.3 min
+2.3 min in Huntsville, AL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
161.4
483.2
+199% in Huntsville, AL
Property Crime
4,259.8
2,395.7
+44% 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
62.1°F
+17.8°F in Huntsville, AL
Annual Precipitation
41.9 in
54.3 in
+12.4 in in Huntsville, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.62/gal
+8% in Bangor, ME

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
29.6
16.4
+45% in Bangor, ME
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$31.62
$24.06
+24% 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 Huntsville, AL
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 / AL)
5.5%
4%
+1.5 pp in ME
Income Tax (top rate)
7.15%
5.00%
+2.2 pp in ME

Bangor vs Huntsville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bangor or Huntsville?
Huntsville, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,090 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% 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 Huntsville?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Bangor versus $36,000 in Huntsville.
Which has lower taxes, Bangor or Huntsville?
Bangor is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Huntsville under Alabama's (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% 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).