Is it cheaper to live in Bangor or Omaha?

Omaha, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,140 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% 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 Omaha?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Bangor versus $39,000 in Omaha.

Which has lower taxes, Bangor or Omaha?

Bangor is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Omaha under Nebraska's (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax).

Bangor vs Omaha Cost of Living 2026

Bangor

Maine

$1,210/mo est.

Omaha

Nebraska

$1,140/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 $1,140 in Omaha, NE. Overall, Omaha, NE is roughly 6% 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 $72,708 in Omaha, NE — about 20% higher in Omaha, NE. Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Bangor, ME

Omaha, NE

Rent

Studio

$800

$908

+14% in Omaha, NE

1 Bedroom

$889

$984

+11% in Omaha, NE

2 Bedroom

$1,136

$1,193

+5% in Omaha, NE

3 Bedroom

$1,224

$1,437

+17% in Omaha, NE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$206,300

$230,100

+12% in Omaha, NE

Income

Median Household Income

$58,096

$72,708

+25% in Omaha, NE

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$47,960

$49,660

+4% in Omaha, NE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

40.7 yr

35.3 yr

+5.4 yr in Bangor, ME

Homeownership

46.9%

57.7%

+10.8 pp in Omaha, NE

Bachelor's+ (25+)

36.3%

40.3%

+4.0 pp in Omaha, NE

Avg Commute

17.0 min

19.6 min

+2.6 min in Omaha, NE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

161.4

359

+122% in Omaha, NE

Property Crime

4,259.8

3,153.5

+26% 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

51.1°F

+6.8°F in Omaha, NE

Annual Precipitation

41.9 in

30.6 in

+11.3 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).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$1.25

Adult base one-way fare — — vs Metro Transit (Omaha) (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

29.6

13.3

+55% in Bangor, ME

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$31.62

$20.10

+36% 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 Omaha, NE

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 / NE)

5.5%

about equal

Income Tax (top rate)

7.15%

4.55%

+2.6 pp in ME

Bangor vs Omaha — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bangor or Omaha?: Omaha, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,140 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% 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 Omaha?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Bangor versus $39,000 in Omaha.
Which has lower taxes, Bangor or Omaha?: Bangor is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Omaha under Nebraska's (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% 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).