Is it cheaper to live in Bangor or Pittsburgh?

Bangor, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,210 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Pittsburgh, PA's $1,320, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Bangor versus $43,000 in Pittsburgh.

Which has lower taxes, Bangor or Pittsburgh?

Bangor is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Pittsburgh under Pennsylvania's (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax).

Bangor vs Pittsburgh Cost of Living 2026

Bangor

Maine

$1,210/mo est.

Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania

$1,320/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 $1,320 in Pittsburgh, PA. Overall, Bangor, ME is roughly 8% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Pittsburgh, PA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,096 in Bangor, ME and $64,137 in Pittsburgh, PA — about 9% higher in Pittsburgh, PA. Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax.

Bangor, ME

Pittsburgh, PA

Rent

Studio

$800

$1,109

+39% in Pittsburgh, PA

1 Bedroom

$889

$1,079

+21% in Pittsburgh, PA

2 Bedroom

$1,136

$1,269

+12% in Pittsburgh, PA

3 Bedroom

$1,224

$1,450

+18% in Pittsburgh, PA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$206,300

$193,200

+6% in Bangor, ME

Income

Median Household Income

$58,096

$64,137

+10% in Pittsburgh, PA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$47,960

$49,650

+4% in Pittsburgh, PA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

40.7 yr

33.5 yr

+7.2 yr in Bangor, ME

Homeownership

46.9%

47.2%

+0.3 pp in Pittsburgh, PA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

36.3%

47.8%

+11.5 pp in Pittsburgh, PA

Avg Commute

17.0 min

23.1 min

+6.1 min in Pittsburgh, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

161.4

436

+170% in Pittsburgh, PA

Property Crime

4,259.8

2,315.7

+46% 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

51.8°F

+7.5°F in Pittsburgh, PA

Annual Precipitation

41.9 in

39.3 in

+2.6 in in Bangor, ME

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

29.6

21.7

+27% in Bangor, ME

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$31.62

$26.08

+18% 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 / PA)

5.5%

+0.5 pp in PA

Income Tax (top rate)

7.15%

3.07%

+4.1 pp in ME

Bangor vs Pittsburgh — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bangor or Pittsburgh?: Bangor, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,210 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Pittsburgh, PA's $1,320, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bangor than in Pittsburgh?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Bangor versus $43,000 in Pittsburgh.
Which has lower taxes, Bangor or Pittsburgh?: Bangor is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Pittsburgh under Pennsylvania's (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 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).