Is it cheaper to live in Bangor or New Haven?

Bangor, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,210 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 21% below New Haven, CT's $1,530, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Bangor versus $51,000 in New Haven.

Which has lower taxes, Bangor or New Haven?

Bangor is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); New Haven under Connecticut's (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax).

Bangor vs New Haven Cost of Living 2026

Bangor

Maine

$1,210/mo est.

New Haven

Connecticut

$1,530/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 $1,530 in New Haven, CT. Overall, Bangor, ME is roughly 21% cheaper to live in day-to-day than New Haven, CT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,096 in Bangor, ME and $53,771 in New Haven, CT — about 7% higher in Bangor, ME. Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax.

Bangor, ME

New Haven, CT

Rent

Studio

$800

$1,159

+45% in New Haven, CT

1 Bedroom

$889

$1,275

+43% in New Haven, CT

2 Bedroom

$1,136

$1,473

+30% in New Haven, CT

3 Bedroom

$1,224

$1,636

+34% in New Haven, CT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$206,300

$249,000

+21% in New Haven, CT

Income

Median Household Income

$58,096

$53,771

+7% in Bangor, ME

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$47,960

$60,060

+25% in New Haven, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

40.7 yr

31.9 yr

+8.8 yr in Bangor, ME

Homeownership

46.9%

28.4%

+18.5 pp in Bangor, ME

Bachelor's+ (25+)

36.3%

37.7%

+1.4 pp in New Haven, CT

Avg Commute

17.0 min

21.0 min

+4.0 min in New Haven, CT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

161.4

536.3

+232% in New Haven, CT

Property Crime

4,259.8

3,601.6

+15% 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

52.2°F

+7.9°F in New Haven, CT

Annual Precipitation

41.9 in

47.1 in

+5.2 in in New Haven, CT

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

29.6

24.3

+18% in Bangor, ME

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$31.62

$23.33

+26% in Bangor, ME

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.92

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (ME / CT)

5.5%

6.35%

+0.8 pp in CT

Income Tax (top rate)

7.15%

6.99%

+0.2 pp in ME

Bangor vs New Haven — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bangor or New Haven?: Bangor, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,210 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 21% below New Haven, CT's $1,530, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bangor than in New Haven?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Bangor versus $51,000 in New Haven.
Which has lower taxes, Bangor or New Haven?: Bangor is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); New Haven under Connecticut's (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% 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).