Is it cheaper to live in Bangor or Rochester?

Bangor, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,210 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Rochester, MN's $1,290, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Bangor versus $44,000 in Rochester.

Which has lower taxes, Bangor or Rochester?

Bangor is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Rochester under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax).

Bangor vs Rochester Cost of Living 2026

Bangor

Maine

$1,210/mo est.

Rochester

Minnesota

$1,290/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 $1,290 in Rochester, MN. Overall, Bangor, ME is roughly 6% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Rochester, MN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,096 in Bangor, ME and $87,767 in Rochester, MN — about 34% higher in Rochester, MN. Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax.

Bangor, ME

Rochester, MN

Rent

Studio

$800

$1,080

+35% in Rochester, MN

1 Bedroom

$889

$1,106

+24% in Rochester, MN

2 Bedroom

$1,136

$1,243

+9% in Rochester, MN

3 Bedroom

$1,224

$1,646

+34% in Rochester, MN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$206,300

$287,500

+39% in Rochester, MN

Income

Median Household Income

$58,096

$87,767

+51% in Rochester, MN

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$47,960

$60,620

+26% in Rochester, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

40.7 yr

36.4 yr

+4.3 yr in Bangor, ME

Homeownership

46.9%

65.4%

+18.5 pp in Rochester, MN

Bachelor's+ (25+)

36.3%

50.1%

+13.8 pp in Rochester, MN

Avg Commute

17.0 min

17.2 min

+0.2 min in Rochester, MN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

161.4

158.9

+2% in Bangor, ME

Property Crime

4,259.8

1,379

+68% 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

45.4°F

+1.1°F in Rochester, MN

Annual Precipitation

41.9 in

33.0 in

+8.9 in in Bangor, ME

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.96/gal

+0% in Rochester, MN

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Minnesota.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

29.6

17.5

+41% in Bangor, ME

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$31.62

$14.79

+53% in Bangor, ME

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$1.66

+14% in Bangor, ME

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$3.63

+66% in Rochester, MN

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$6.77

+2% in Bangor, ME

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$2.10

+4% in Bangor, ME

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.62

+11% in Bangor, ME

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (ME / MN)

5.5%

6.875%

+1.4 pp in MN

Income Tax (top rate)

7.15%

9.85%

+2.7 pp in MN

Bangor vs Rochester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bangor or Rochester?: Bangor, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,210 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Rochester, MN's $1,290, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bangor than in Rochester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Bangor versus $44,000 in Rochester.
Which has lower taxes, Bangor or Rochester?: Bangor is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Rochester under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% 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).