Is it cheaper to live in Bangor or Madison?

Bangor, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,210 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Madison, WI's $1,420, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Bangor versus $49,000 in Madison.

Which has lower taxes, Bangor or Madison?

Bangor is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Madison under Wisconsin's (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax).

Bangor vs Madison Cost of Living 2026

Bangor

Maine

$1,210/mo est.

Madison

Wisconsin

$1,420/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 $1,420 in Madison, WI. Overall, Bangor, ME is roughly 15% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Madison, WI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,096 in Bangor, ME and $76,983 in Madison, WI — about 25% higher in Madison, WI. Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax.

Bangor, ME

Madison, WI

Rent

Studio

$800

$1,018

+27% in Madison, WI

1 Bedroom

$889

$1,219

+37% in Madison, WI

2 Bedroom

$1,136

$1,432

+26% in Madison, WI

3 Bedroom

$1,224

$1,766

+44% in Madison, WI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$206,300

$346,900

+68% in Madison, WI

Income

Median Household Income

$58,096

$76,983

+33% in Madison, WI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$47,960

$58,080

+21% in Madison, WI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

40.7 yr

31.8 yr

+8.9 yr in Bangor, ME

Homeownership

46.9%

46.6%

+0.3 pp in Bangor, ME

Bachelor's+ (25+)

36.3%

59.2%

+22.9 pp in Madison, WI

Avg Commute

17.0 min

19.4 min

+2.4 min in Madison, WI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

161.4

259.5

+61% in Madison, WI

Property Crime

4,259.8

1,884.5

+56% 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

46.5°F

+2.2°F in Madison, WI

Annual Precipitation

41.9 in

34.5 in

+7.5 in in Bangor, ME

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.85/gal

+2% in Bangor, ME

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

29.6

19.6

+34% in Bangor, ME

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$31.62

$18.17

+43% in Bangor, ME

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$1.66

+14% in Bangor, ME

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$3.63

+66% in Madison, WI

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 / WI)

5.5%

+0.5 pp in ME

Income Tax (top rate)

7.15%

7.65%

+0.5 pp in WI

Bangor vs Madison — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bangor or Madison?: Bangor, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,210 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Madison, WI's $1,420, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bangor than in Madison?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Bangor versus $49,000 in Madison.
Which has lower taxes, Bangor or Madison?: Bangor is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Madison under Wisconsin's (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 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).