Is it cheaper to live in Bangor or Naperville?

Bangor, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,210 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 33% below Naperville, IL's $1,800, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Bangor versus $64,000 in Naperville.

Which has lower taxes, Bangor or Naperville?

Bangor is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Naperville under Illinois's (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Bangor vs Naperville Cost of Living 2026

Bangor

Maine

$1,210/mo est.

Naperville

Illinois

$1,800/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 $1,800 in Naperville, IL. Overall, Bangor, ME is roughly 33% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Naperville, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,096 in Bangor, ME and $150,937 in Naperville, IL — about 62% higher in Naperville, IL. Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Bangor, ME

Naperville, IL

Rent

Studio

$800

$1,713

+114% in Naperville, IL

1 Bedroom

$889

$1,594

+79% in Naperville, IL

2 Bedroom

$1,136

$1,889

+66% in Naperville, IL

3 Bedroom

$1,224

$2,446

+100% in Naperville, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$206,300

$509,900

+147% in Naperville, IL

Income

Median Household Income

$58,096

$150,937

+160% in Naperville, IL

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$47,960

$54,720

+14% in Naperville, IL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

40.7 yr

40.1 yr

+0.6 yr in Bangor, ME

Homeownership

46.9%

74.3%

+27.4 pp in Naperville, IL

Bachelor's+ (25+)

36.3%

71.7%

+35.4 pp in Naperville, IL

Avg Commute

17.0 min

31.4 min

+14.4 min in Naperville, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

161.4

85.7

+47% in Bangor, ME

Property Crime

4,259.8

892.2

+79% 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

49.9°F

+5.6°F in Naperville, IL

Annual Precipitation

41.9 in

36.9 in

+5.0 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

19.9

+33% in Bangor, ME

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$31.62

$19.71

+38% 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 Naperville, IL

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 / IL)

5.5%

6.25%

+0.8 pp in IL

Income Tax (top rate)

7.15%

4.95%

+2.2 pp in ME

Bangor vs Naperville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bangor or Naperville?: Bangor, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,210 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 33% below Naperville, IL's $1,800, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bangor than in Naperville?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Bangor versus $64,000 in Naperville.
Which has lower taxes, Bangor or Naperville?: Bangor is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Naperville under Illinois's (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% 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).