Living Cost Compare
Bangor

Maine

$1,210/mo est.

vs
St. Louis

Missouri

$1,060/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 $1,060 in St. Louis, MO. Overall, St. Louis, MO is roughly 12% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bangor, ME, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $58,096 in Bangor, ME and $55,279 in St. Louis, MO — about 5% higher in Bangor, ME. Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax.

Bangor, ME
St. Louis, MO

Rent

Studio
$800
$864
+8% in St. Louis, MO
1 Bedroom
$889
$866
+3% in Bangor, ME
2 Bedroom
$1,136
$1,109
+2% in Bangor, ME
3 Bedroom
$1,224
$1,135
+7% in Bangor, ME

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$206,300
$185,100
+10% in Bangor, ME

Income

Median Household Income
$58,096
$55,279
+5% in Bangor, ME
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,960
$49,990
+4% in St. Louis, MO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
40.7 yr
36.6 yr
+4.1 yr in Bangor, ME
Homeownership
46.9%
45.4%
+1.5 pp in Bangor, ME
Bachelor's+ (25+)
36.3%
40.2%
+3.9 pp in St. Louis, MO
Avg Commute
17.0 min
22.2 min
+5.2 min in St. Louis, MO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
161.4
1,372.9
+751% in St. Louis, MO
Property Crime
4,259.8
5,794.9
+36% in St. Louis, MO

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
55.7°F
+11.4°F in St. Louis, MO
Annual Precipitation
41.9 in
40.9 in
+1.0 in in Bangor, ME

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.85/gal
+2% in Bangor, ME

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
29.6
16.2
+45% in Bangor, ME
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$31.62
$28.78
+9% in Bangor, ME

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.66
+14% in Bangor, ME
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$3.63
+66% in St. Louis, MO
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 / MO)
5.5%
4.225%
+1.3 pp in ME
Income Tax (top rate)
7.15%
4.70%
+2.5 pp in ME

Bangor vs St. Louis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bangor or St. Louis?
St. Louis, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,060 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below Bangor, ME's $1,210, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bangor than in St. Louis?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Bangor versus $35,000 in St. Louis.
Which has lower taxes, Bangor or St. Louis?
Bangor is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); St. Louis under Missouri's (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% 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).