Is it cheaper to live in Bangor or Santa Fe?

Bangor, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,210 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Santa Fe, NM's $1,310, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Bangor versus $47,000 in Santa Fe.

Which has lower taxes, Bangor or Santa Fe?

Bangor is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Santa Fe under New Mexico's (a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax).

Bangor vs Santa Fe Cost of Living 2026

Bangor

Maine

$1,210/mo est.

Santa Fe

New Mexico

$1,310/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 $1,310 in Santa Fe, NM. Overall, Bangor, ME is roughly 8% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Santa Fe, NM, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,096 in Bangor, ME and $70,110 in Santa Fe, NM — about 17% higher in Santa Fe, NM. Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax; New Mexico has a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax.

Bangor, ME

Santa Fe, NM

Rent

Studio

$800

$969

+21% in Santa Fe, NM

1 Bedroom

$889

$1,167

+31% in Santa Fe, NM

2 Bedroom

$1,136

$1,559

+37% in Santa Fe, NM

3 Bedroom

$1,224

$1,733

+42% in Santa Fe, NM

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$206,300

$411,500

+99% in Santa Fe, NM

Income

Median Household Income

$58,096

$70,110

+21% in Santa Fe, NM

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$47,960

$48,710

+2% in Santa Fe, NM

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

40.7 yr

46.4 yr

+5.7 yr in Santa Fe, NM

Homeownership

46.9%

62.8%

+15.9 pp in Santa Fe, NM

Bachelor's+ (25+)

36.3%

45.4%

+9.1 pp in Santa Fe, NM

Avg Commute

17.0 min

20.2 min

+3.2 min in Santa Fe, NM

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

161.4

843.3

+422% in Santa Fe, NM

Property Crime

4,259.8

5,189

+22% in Santa Fe, NM

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

51.9°F

+7.6°F in Santa Fe, NM

Annual Precipitation

41.9 in

13.5 in

+28.4 in in Bangor, ME

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.62/gal

+8% in Bangor, ME

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

29.6

15.1

+49% in Bangor, ME

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$31.62

$9.31

+71% in Bangor, ME

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Santa Fe, NM

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$2.04

+6% in Santa Fe, NM

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$7.36

+7% in Santa Fe, NM

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 / NM)

5.5%

4.875%

+0.6 pp in ME

Income Tax (top rate)

7.15%

5.90%

+1.3 pp in ME

Bangor vs Santa Fe — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bangor or Santa Fe?: Bangor, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,210 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Santa Fe, NM's $1,310, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bangor than in Santa Fe?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Bangor versus $47,000 in Santa Fe.
Which has lower taxes, Bangor or Santa Fe?: Bangor is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Santa Fe under New Mexico's (a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% 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).