Is it cheaper to live in Bangor or Meridian?

Bangor, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,210 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Meridian, ID's $1,690, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Bangor versus $62,000 in Meridian.

Which has lower taxes, Bangor or Meridian?

Bangor is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Meridian under Idaho's (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax).

Bangor vs Meridian Cost of Living 2026

Bangor

Maine

$1,210/mo est.

Meridian

Idaho

$1,690/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 $1,690 in Meridian, ID. Overall, Bangor, ME is roughly 28% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Meridian, ID, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,096 in Bangor, ME and $98,686 in Meridian, ID — about 41% higher in Meridian, ID. Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Idaho has a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax.

Bangor, ME

Meridian, ID

Rent

Studio

$800

$1,523

+90% in Meridian, ID

1 Bedroom

$889

$1,540

+73% in Meridian, ID

2 Bedroom

$1,136

$1,489

+31% in Meridian, ID

3 Bedroom

$1,224

$1,893

+55% in Meridian, ID

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$206,300

$485,000

+135% in Meridian, ID

Income

Median Household Income

$58,096

$98,686

+70% in Meridian, ID

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$47,960

$49,100

+2% in Meridian, ID

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

40.7 yr

37.4 yr

+3.3 yr in Bangor, ME

Homeownership

46.9%

76.1%

+29.2 pp in Meridian, ID

Bachelor's+ (25+)

36.3%

44.4%

+8.1 pp in Meridian, ID

Avg Commute

17.0 min

22.3 min

+5.3 min in Meridian, ID

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

161.4

150.3

+7% in Bangor, ME

Property Crime

4,259.8

583.5

+86% 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

52.5°F

+8.2°F in Meridian, ID

Annual Precipitation

41.9 in

11.7 in

+30.2 in in Bangor, ME

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$4.27/gal

+8% in Meridian, ID

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

29.6

14.4

+51% in Bangor, ME

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$31.62

$11.33

+64% in Bangor, ME

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Meridian, ID

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$2.04

+6% in Meridian, ID

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$7.36

+7% in Meridian, ID

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$2.01

+8% in Bangor, ME

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.70

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (ME / ID)

5.5%

+0.5 pp in ID

Income Tax (top rate)

7.15%

5.30%

+1.9 pp in ME

Bangor vs Meridian — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bangor or Meridian?: Bangor, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,210 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Meridian, ID's $1,690, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bangor than in Meridian?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Bangor versus $62,000 in Meridian.
Which has lower taxes, Bangor or Meridian?: Bangor is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Meridian under Idaho's (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% 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).