Is it cheaper to live in Bangor or Montgomery?

Montgomery, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% 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 Montgomery?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Bangor versus $33,000 in Montgomery.

Which has lower taxes, Bangor or Montgomery?

Bangor is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Montgomery under Alabama's (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax).

Bangor vs Montgomery Cost of Living 2026

Bangor

Maine

$1,210/mo est.

Montgomery

Alabama

$1,020/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 $1,020 in Montgomery, AL. Overall, Montgomery, AL is roughly 16% 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 $55,687 in Montgomery, AL — about 4% higher in Bangor, ME. 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

Montgomery, AL

Rent

Studio

$800

$864

+8% in Montgomery, AL

1 Bedroom

$889

$831

+7% in Bangor, ME

2 Bedroom

$1,136

$982

+14% in Bangor, ME

3 Bedroom

$1,224

$1,172

+4% in Bangor, ME

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$206,300

$148,500

+28% in Bangor, ME

Income

Median Household Income

$58,096

$55,687

+4% in Bangor, ME

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$47,960

$44,950

+6% in Bangor, ME

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

40.7 yr

36.2 yr

+4.5 yr in Bangor, ME

Homeownership

46.9%

54.3%

+7.4 pp in Montgomery, AL

Bachelor's+ (25+)

36.3%

33.5%

+2.8 pp in Bangor, ME

Avg Commute

17.0 min

20.5 min

+3.5 min in Montgomery, AL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

161.4

605.5

+275% in Montgomery, AL

Property Crime

4,259.8

2,258.3

+47% 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

65.1°F

+20.8°F in Montgomery, AL

Annual Precipitation

41.9 in

53.1 in

+11.1 in in Montgomery, 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 Montgomery, 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%

+1.5 pp in ME

Income Tax (top rate)

7.15%

5.00%

+2.2 pp in ME

Bangor vs Montgomery — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bangor or Montgomery?: Montgomery, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% 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 Montgomery?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Bangor versus $33,000 in Montgomery.
Which has lower taxes, Bangor or Montgomery?: Bangor is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Montgomery 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).