Living Cost Compare
Bangor

Maine

$1,210/mo est.

vs
Little Rock

Arkansas

$1,080/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 $1,080 in Little Rock, AR. Overall, Little Rock, AR is roughly 11% 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 $60,583 in Little Rock, AR — about 4% higher in Little Rock, AR. Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Bangor, ME
Little Rock, AR

Rent

Studio
$800
$981
+23% in Little Rock, AR
1 Bedroom
$889
$904
+2% in Little Rock, AR
2 Bedroom
$1,136
$1,064
+6% in Bangor, ME
3 Bedroom
$1,224
$1,292
+6% in Little Rock, AR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$206,300
$221,200
+7% in Little Rock, AR

Income

Median Household Income
$58,096
$60,583
+4% in Little Rock, AR
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,960
$45,790
+5% in Bangor, ME

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
40.7 yr
36.4 yr
+4.3 yr in Bangor, ME
Homeownership
46.9%
54.2%
+7.3 pp in Little Rock, AR
Bachelor's+ (25+)
36.3%
44.0%
+7.7 pp in Little Rock, AR
Avg Commute
17.0 min
18.3 min
+1.3 min in Little Rock, AR

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
161.4
1,673
+937% in Little Rock, AR
Property Crime
4,259.8
5,251.5
+23% in Little Rock, AR

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
62.7°F
+18.4°F in Little Rock, AR
Annual Precipitation
41.9 in
49.8 in
+7.8 in in Little Rock, AR

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
14.1
+52% in Bangor, ME
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$31.62
$27.86
+12% 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 Little Rock, AR
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 / AR)
5.5%
6.5%
+1.0 pp in AR
Income Tax (top rate)
7.15%
3.90%
+3.3 pp in ME

Bangor vs Little Rock — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bangor or Little Rock?
Little Rock, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,080 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% 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 Little Rock?
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 Little Rock.
Which has lower taxes, Bangor or Little Rock?
Bangor is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Little Rock under Arkansas's (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% 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).