Living Cost Compare
Bangor

Maine

$1,210/mo est.

vs
Indianapolis

Indiana

$1,160/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 $1,160 in Indianapolis, IN. Overall, Indianapolis, IN is roughly 4% 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 $62,995 in Indianapolis, IN — about 8% higher in Indianapolis, IN. Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax.

Bangor, ME
Indianapolis, IN

Rent

Studio
$800
$933
+17% in Indianapolis, IN
1 Bedroom
$889
$963
+8% in Indianapolis, IN
2 Bedroom
$1,136
$1,132
+0% in Bangor, ME
3 Bedroom
$1,224
$1,304
+7% in Indianapolis, IN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$206,300
$207,000
+0% in Indianapolis, IN

Income

Median Household Income
$58,096
$62,995
+8% in Indianapolis, IN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,960
$49,340
+3% in Indianapolis, IN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
40.7 yr
34.1 yr
+6.6 yr in Bangor, ME
Homeownership
46.9%
55.3%
+8.4 pp in Indianapolis, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
36.3%
34.2%
+2.1 pp in Bangor, ME
Avg Commute
17.0 min
24.3 min
+7.3 min in Indianapolis, IN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
161.4
936.6
+480% in Indianapolis, IN
Property Crime
4,259.8
3,351.7
+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
53.2°F
+8.9°F in Indianapolis, IN
Annual Precipitation
41.9 in
42.4 in
+0.5 in in Indianapolis, IN

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.85/gal
+2% in Bangor, ME

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.75

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
29.6
17.5
+41% in Bangor, ME
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$31.62
$24.52
+22% in Bangor, ME

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.66
+14% in Bangor, ME
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$3.63
+66% in Indianapolis, IN
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.77
+2% in Bangor, ME
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$2.10
+4% in Bangor, ME
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.62
+11% in Bangor, ME

Average prices — Northeast vs Midwest (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (ME / IN)
5.5%
7%
+1.5 pp in IN
Income Tax (top rate)
7.15%
2.95%
+4.2 pp in ME

Bangor vs Indianapolis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bangor or Indianapolis?
Indianapolis, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,160 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% 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 Indianapolis?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Bangor versus $39,000 in Indianapolis.
Which has lower taxes, Bangor or Indianapolis?
Bangor is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Indianapolis under Indiana's (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% 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).