Is it cheaper to live in Bangor or Springfield?

Springfield, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below Bangor, ME's $1,210, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Bangor versus $31,000 in Springfield.

Which has lower taxes, Bangor or Springfield?

Bangor is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Springfield under Missouri's (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax).

Bangor vs Springfield Cost of Living 2026

Bangor

Maine

$1,210/mo est.

Springfield

Missouri

$970/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 $970 in Springfield, MO. Overall, Springfield, MO is roughly 20% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bangor, ME, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,096 in Bangor, ME and $45,984 in Springfield, MO — about 21% 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

Springfield, MO

Rent

Studio

$800

$760

+5% in Bangor, ME

1 Bedroom

$889

$772

+13% in Bangor, ME

2 Bedroom

$1,136

$926

+18% in Bangor, ME

3 Bedroom

$1,224

$1,158

+5% in Bangor, ME

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$206,300

$165,200

+20% in Bangor, ME

Income

Median Household Income

$58,096

$45,984

+21% in Bangor, ME

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$47,960

$45,780

+5% in Bangor, ME

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

40.7 yr

33.6 yr

+7.1 yr in Bangor, ME

Homeownership

46.9%

42.9%

+4.0 pp in Bangor, ME

Bachelor's+ (25+)

36.3%

30.3%

+6.0 pp in Bangor, ME

Avg Commute

17.0 min

18.0 min

+1.0 min in Springfield, MO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

161.4

1,189.8

+637% in Springfield, MO

Property Crime

4,259.8

4,231.6

+1% 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

56.3°F

+12.0°F in Springfield, MO

Annual Precipitation

41.9 in

45.6 in

+3.6 in in Springfield, MO

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

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$1.66

+14% in Bangor, ME

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$3.63

+66% in Springfield, 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 Springfield — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bangor or Springfield?: Springfield, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below Bangor, ME's $1,210, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bangor than in Springfield?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Bangor versus $31,000 in Springfield.
Which has lower taxes, Bangor or Springfield?: Bangor is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Springfield 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).