Living Cost Compare
Bangor

Maine

$1,210/mo est.

vs
Newark

Delaware

$1,620/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 $1,620 in Newark, DE. Overall, Bangor, ME is roughly 25% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Newark, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,096 in Bangor, ME and $71,373 in Newark, DE — about 19% higher in Newark, DE. Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Bangor, ME
Newark, DE

Rent

Studio
$800
$1,649
+106% in Newark, DE
1 Bedroom
$889
$1,391
+56% in Newark, DE
2 Bedroom
$1,136
$1,513
+33% in Newark, DE
3 Bedroom
$1,224
$1,916
+57% in Newark, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$206,300
$357,600
+73% in Newark, DE

Income

Median Household Income
$58,096
$71,373
+23% in Newark, DE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,960
$54,310
+13% in Newark, DE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
40.7 yr
22.0 yr
+18.7 yr in Bangor, ME
Homeownership
46.9%
50.3%
+3.4 pp in Newark, DE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
36.3%
57.5%
+21.2 pp in Newark, DE
Avg Commute
17.0 min
19.6 min
+2.6 min in Newark, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
161.4
326.3
+102% in Newark, DE
Property Crime
4,259.8
2,024.6
+52% 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
54.9°F
+10.6°F in Newark, DE
Annual Precipitation
41.9 in
43.1 in
+1.1 in in Newark, DE

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.94/gal
about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
29.6
19.3
+35% in Bangor, ME
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$31.62
$29.73
+6% 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 Newark, DE
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 / DE)
5.5%
None
+5.5 pp in ME
Income Tax (top rate)
7.15%
6.60%
+0.6 pp in ME

Bangor vs Newark — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bangor or Newark?
Bangor, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,210 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 25% below Newark, DE's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bangor than in Newark?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Bangor versus $56,000 in Newark.
Which has lower taxes, Bangor or Newark?
Bangor is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Newark under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no 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).