Is it cheaper to live in Bangor or Raleigh?

Bangor, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,210 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below Raleigh, NC's $1,510, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Bangor versus $53,000 in Raleigh.

Which has lower taxes, Bangor or Raleigh?

Bangor is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Raleigh under North Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax).

Bangor vs Raleigh Cost of Living 2026

Bangor

Maine

$1,210/mo est.

Raleigh

North Carolina

$1,510/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 $1,510 in Raleigh, NC. Overall, Bangor, ME is roughly 20% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Raleigh, NC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,096 in Bangor, ME and $82,424 in Raleigh, NC — about 30% higher in Raleigh, NC. Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax; North Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax.

Bangor, ME

Raleigh, NC

Rent

Studio

$800

$1,301

+63% in Raleigh, NC

1 Bedroom

$889

$1,323

+49% in Raleigh, NC

2 Bedroom

$1,136

$1,462

+29% in Raleigh, NC

3 Bedroom

$1,224

$1,715

+40% in Raleigh, NC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$206,300

$377,800

+83% in Raleigh, NC

Income

Median Household Income

$58,096

$82,424

+42% in Raleigh, NC

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$47,960

$51,990

+8% in Raleigh, NC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

40.7 yr

34.7 yr

+6.0 yr in Bangor, ME

Homeownership

46.9%

51.2%

+4.3 pp in Raleigh, NC

Bachelor's+ (25+)

36.3%

52.9%

+16.6 pp in Raleigh, NC

Avg Commute

17.0 min

23.4 min

+6.4 min in Raleigh, NC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

161.4

491.5

+205% in Raleigh, NC

Property Crime

4,259.8

2,838.4

+33% 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

60.6°F

+16.3°F in Raleigh, NC

Annual Precipitation

41.9 in

46.0 in

+4.1 in in Raleigh, NC

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

about equal

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$1.25

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

29.6

14.7

+50% in Bangor, ME

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$31.62

$30.10

+5% 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 Raleigh, NC

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 / NC)

5.5%

4.75%

+0.8 pp in ME

Income Tax (top rate)

7.15%

3.99%

+3.2 pp in ME

Bangor vs Raleigh — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bangor or Raleigh?: Bangor, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,210 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below Raleigh, NC's $1,510, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bangor than in Raleigh?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Bangor versus $53,000 in Raleigh.
Which has lower taxes, Bangor or Raleigh?: Bangor is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Raleigh under North Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% 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).