Is it cheaper to live in Bangor or Seattle?

Bangor, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,210 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 40% below Seattle, WA's $2,030, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Bangor versus $74,000 in Seattle.

Which has lower taxes, Bangor or Seattle?

Bangor is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Seattle under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax).

Bangor vs Seattle Cost of Living 2026

Bangor

Maine

$1,210/mo est.

Seattle

Washington

$2,030/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 $2,030 in Seattle, WA. Overall, Bangor, ME is roughly 40% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Seattle, WA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,096 in Bangor, ME and $121,984 in Seattle, WA — about 52% higher in Seattle, WA. Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Washington has no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Bangor, ME

Seattle, WA

Rent

Studio

$800

$1,638

+105% in Seattle, WA

1 Bedroom

$889

$1,858

+109% in Seattle, WA

2 Bedroom

$1,136

$2,359

+108% in Seattle, WA

3 Bedroom

$1,224

$2,918

+138% in Seattle, WA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$206,300

$912,100

+342% in Seattle, WA

Income

Median Household Income

$58,096

$121,984

+110% in Seattle, WA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$47,960

$72,610

+51% in Seattle, WA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

40.7 yr

35.5 yr

+5.2 yr in Bangor, ME

Homeownership

46.9%

44.2%

+2.7 pp in Bangor, ME

Bachelor's+ (25+)

36.3%

67.5%

+31.2 pp in Seattle, WA

Avg Commute

17.0 min

26.6 min

+9.6 min in Seattle, WA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

161.4

788.6

+389% in Seattle, WA

Property Crime

4,259.8

5,108.8

+20% in Seattle, WA

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

53.5°F

+9.2°F in Seattle, WA

Annual Precipitation

41.9 in

37.7 in

+4.2 in in Bangor, ME

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$5.41/gal

+37% in Seattle, WA

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Seattle.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.75

Adult base one-way fare — — vs King County Metro (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

29.6

14.9

+50% in Bangor, ME

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$31.62

$21.34

+33% in Bangor, ME

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Seattle, WA

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$2.04

+6% in Seattle, WA

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$7.36

+7% in Seattle, WA

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 / WA)

5.5%

6.5%

+1.0 pp in WA

Income Tax (top rate)

7.15%

None

+7.2 pp in ME

Bangor vs Seattle — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bangor or Seattle?: Bangor, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,210 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 40% below Seattle, WA's $2,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bangor than in Seattle?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Bangor versus $74,000 in Seattle.
Which has lower taxes, Bangor or Seattle?: Bangor is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Seattle under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% 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).