Is it cheaper to live in Bangor or Providence?

Bangor, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,210 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below Providence, RI's $1,330, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Bangor versus $41,000 in Providence.

Which has lower taxes, Bangor or Providence?

Bangor is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Providence under Rhode Island's (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax).

Bangor vs Providence Cost of Living 2026

Bangor

Maine

$1,210/mo est.

Providence

Rhode Island

$1,330/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 $1,330 in Providence, RI. Overall, Bangor, ME is roughly 9% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Providence, RI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,096 in Bangor, ME and $66,772 in Providence, RI — about 13% higher in Providence, RI. Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Rhode Island has a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax.

Bangor, ME

Providence, RI

Rent

Studio

$800

$1,116

+40% in Providence, RI

1 Bedroom

$889

$1,030

+16% in Providence, RI

2 Bedroom

$1,136

$1,323

+16% in Providence, RI

3 Bedroom

$1,224

$1,627

+33% in Providence, RI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$206,300

$322,800

+56% in Providence, RI

Income

Median Household Income

$58,096

$66,772

+15% in Providence, RI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$47,960

$53,680

+12% in Providence, RI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

40.7 yr

32.9 yr

+7.8 yr in Bangor, ME

Homeownership

46.9%

41.2%

+5.7 pp in Bangor, ME

Bachelor's+ (25+)

36.3%

34.7%

+1.6 pp in Bangor, ME

Avg Commute

17.0 min

25.0 min

+8.0 min in Providence, RI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

161.4

282.4

+75% in Providence, RI

Property Crime

4,259.8

1,665.6

+61% 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

51.6°F

+7.3°F in Providence, RI

Annual Precipitation

41.9 in

47.2 in

+5.3 in in Providence, RI

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

29.6

29.2

+1% in Bangor, ME

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$31.62

$25.75

+19% 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 / RI)

5.5%

+1.5 pp in RI

Income Tax (top rate)

7.15%

5.99%

+1.2 pp in ME

Bangor vs Providence — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bangor or Providence?: Bangor, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,210 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below Providence, RI's $1,330, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bangor than in Providence?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Bangor versus $41,000 in Providence.
Which has lower taxes, Bangor or Providence?: Bangor is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Providence under Rhode Island's (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% 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).