Living Cost Compare
Bangor

Maine

$1,210/mo est.

vs
Reno

Nevada

$1,350/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 $1,350 in Reno, NV. Overall, Bangor, ME is roughly 10% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Reno, NV, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,096 in Bangor, ME and $78,448 in Reno, NV — about 26% higher in Reno, NV. Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Nevada has no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$800
$964
+21% in Reno, NV
1 Bedroom
$889
$1,206
+36% in Reno, NV
2 Bedroom
$1,136
$1,518
+34% in Reno, NV
3 Bedroom
$1,224
$1,885
+54% in Reno, NV

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$206,300
$498,600
+142% in Reno, NV

Income

Median Household Income
$58,096
$78,448
+35% in Reno, NV
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,960
$49,660
+4% in Reno, NV

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
40.7 yr
37.3 yr
+3.4 yr in Bangor, ME
Homeownership
46.9%
49.4%
+2.5 pp in Reno, NV
Bachelor's+ (25+)
36.3%
35.7%
+0.6 pp in Bangor, ME
Avg Commute
17.0 min
20.6 min
+3.6 min in Reno, NV

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
161.4
528.9
+228% in Reno, NV
Property Crime
4,259.8
2,489.3
+42% 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
53.8°F
+9.5°F in Reno, NV
Annual Precipitation
41.9 in
7.4 in
+34.5 in in Bangor, ME

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$5.21/gal
+32% in Reno, NV

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
29.6
13.1
+56% in Bangor, ME
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$31.62
$13.83
+56% in Bangor, ME

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.82
+12% in Reno, NV
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$2.04
+6% in Reno, NV
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$7.36
+7% in Reno, NV
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 / NV)
5.5%
6.85%
+1.3 pp in NV
Income Tax (top rate)
7.15%
None
+7.2 pp in ME

Bangor vs Reno — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bangor or Reno?
Bangor, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,210 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Reno, NV's $1,350, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bangor than in Reno?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Bangor versus $48,000 in Reno.
Which has lower taxes, Bangor or Reno?
Bangor is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Reno under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% 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).