Living Cost Compare
Bangor

Maine

$1,210/mo est.

vs
San Antonio

Texas

$1,280/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 $1,280 in San Antonio, TX. Overall, Bangor, ME is roughly 5% cheaper to live in day-to-day than San Antonio, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,096 in Bangor, ME and $62,917 in San Antonio, TX — about 8% higher in San Antonio, TX. Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$800
$1,052
+32% in San Antonio, TX
1 Bedroom
$889
$1,084
+22% in San Antonio, TX
2 Bedroom
$1,136
$1,327
+17% in San Antonio, TX
3 Bedroom
$1,224
$1,545
+26% in San Antonio, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$206,300
$219,700
+6% in San Antonio, TX

Income

Median Household Income
$58,096
$62,917
+8% in San Antonio, TX
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,960
$47,010
+2% in Bangor, ME

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
40.7 yr
34.6 yr
+6.1 yr in Bangor, ME
Homeownership
46.9%
52.4%
+5.5 pp in San Antonio, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
36.3%
28.7%
+7.6 pp in Bangor, ME
Avg Commute
17.0 min
24.6 min
+7.6 min in San Antonio, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
161.4
605.7
+275% in San Antonio, TX
Property Crime
4,259.8
4,665.7
+10% in San Antonio, TX

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
68.5°F
+24.2°F in San Antonio, TX
Annual Precipitation
41.9 in
34.9 in
+7.1 in in Bangor, ME

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.58/gal
+9% in Bangor, ME

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Texas.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.30

Adult base one-way fare — vs VIA Metropolitan Transit (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
29.6
15.9
+46% in Bangor, ME
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$31.62
$31.89
+1% in San Antonio, TX

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 San Antonio, TX
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 / TX)
5.5%
6.25%
+0.8 pp in TX
Income Tax (top rate)
7.15%
None
+7.2 pp in ME

Bangor vs San Antonio — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bangor or San Antonio?
Bangor, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,210 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below San Antonio, TX's $1,280, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bangor than in San Antonio?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Bangor versus $43,000 in San Antonio.
Which has lower taxes, Bangor or San Antonio?
Bangor is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); San Antonio under Texas's (no state income tax and a 6.25% 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).