Is it cheaper to live in Bangor or Phoenix?

Bangor, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,210 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Phoenix, AZ's $1,430, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Bangor versus $50,000 in Phoenix.

Which has lower taxes, Bangor or Phoenix?

Bangor is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Phoenix under Arizona's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax).

Bangor vs Phoenix Cost of Living 2026

Bangor

Maine

$1,210/mo est.

Phoenix

Arizona

$1,430/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 $1,430 in Phoenix, AZ. Overall, Bangor, ME is roughly 15% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Phoenix, AZ, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,096 in Bangor, ME and $77,041 in Phoenix, AZ — about 25% higher in Phoenix, AZ. Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Arizona has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax.

Bangor, ME

Phoenix, AZ

Rent

Studio

$800

$1,127

+41% in Phoenix, AZ

1 Bedroom

$889

$1,253

+41% in Phoenix, AZ

2 Bedroom

$1,136

$1,493

+31% in Phoenix, AZ

3 Bedroom

$1,224

$1,771

+45% in Phoenix, AZ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$206,300

$381,900

+85% in Phoenix, AZ

Income

Median Household Income

$58,096

$77,041

+33% in Phoenix, AZ

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$47,960

$51,380

+7% in Phoenix, AZ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

40.7 yr

34.8 yr

+5.9 yr in Bangor, ME

Homeownership

46.9%

57.1%

+10.2 pp in Phoenix, AZ

Bachelor's+ (25+)

36.3%

32.3%

+4.0 pp in Bangor, ME

Avg Commute

17.0 min

25.7 min

+8.7 min in Phoenix, AZ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

161.4

799.6

+395% in Phoenix, AZ

Property Crime

4,259.8

2,338.9

+45% 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

75.1°F

+30.8°F in Phoenix, AZ

Annual Precipitation

41.9 in

8.2 in

+33.8 in in Bangor, ME

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$5.21/gal

+32% in Phoenix, AZ

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

29.6

15.2

+49% in Bangor, ME

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$31.62

$24.74

+22% in Bangor, ME

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Phoenix, AZ

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$2.04

+6% in Phoenix, AZ

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$7.36

+7% in Phoenix, AZ

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$2.01

+8% in Bangor, ME

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.70

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (ME / AZ)

5.5%

5.6%

+0.1 pp in AZ

Income Tax (top rate)

7.15%

2.50%

+4.7 pp in ME

Bangor vs Phoenix — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bangor or Phoenix?: Bangor, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,210 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Phoenix, AZ's $1,430, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bangor than in Phoenix?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Bangor versus $50,000 in Phoenix.
Which has lower taxes, Bangor or Phoenix?: Bangor is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Phoenix under Arizona's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% 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).