Is it cheaper to live in Bangor or Tampa?

Bangor, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,210 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 19% below Tampa, FL's $1,500, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Bangor versus $53,000 in Tampa.

Which has lower taxes, Bangor or Tampa?

Bangor is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Tampa under Florida's (no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax).

Bangor vs Tampa Cost of Living 2026

Bangor

Maine

$1,210/mo est.

Tampa

Florida

$1,500/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 $1,500 in Tampa, FL. Overall, Bangor, ME is roughly 19% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Tampa, FL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,096 in Bangor, ME and $71,302 in Tampa, FL — about 19% higher in Tampa, FL. Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Florida has no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax.

Bangor, ME

Tampa, FL

Rent

Studio

$800

$1,242

+55% in Tampa, FL

1 Bedroom

$889

$1,324

+49% in Tampa, FL

2 Bedroom

$1,136

$1,673

+47% in Tampa, FL

3 Bedroom

$1,224

$1,729

+41% in Tampa, FL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$206,300

$375,300

+82% in Tampa, FL

Income

Median Household Income

$58,096

$71,302

+23% in Tampa, FL

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$47,960

$48,940

+2% in Tampa, FL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

40.7 yr

35.6 yr

+5.1 yr in Bangor, ME

Homeownership

46.9%

50.2%

+3.3 pp in Tampa, FL

Bachelor's+ (25+)

36.3%

44.6%

+8.3 pp in Tampa, FL

Avg Commute

17.0 min

24.7 min

+7.7 min in Tampa, FL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

161.4

443.2

+175% in Tampa, FL

Property Crime

4,259.8

1,473.2

+65% 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

73.4°F

+29.1°F in Tampa, FL

Annual Precipitation

41.9 in

46.3 in

+4.4 in in Tampa, FL

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.83/gal

+3% in Bangor, ME

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Florida.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.00

Adult base one-way fare — — vs HART (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

29.6

15.1

+49% in Bangor, ME

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$31.62

$23.62

+25% in Bangor, ME

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 Tampa, FL

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 / FL)

5.5%

+0.5 pp in FL

Income Tax (top rate)

7.15%

None

+7.2 pp in ME

Bangor vs Tampa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bangor or Tampa?: Bangor, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,210 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 19% below Tampa, FL's $1,500, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bangor than in Tampa?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Bangor versus $53,000 in Tampa.
Which has lower taxes, Bangor or Tampa?: Bangor is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Tampa under Florida's (no state income tax and a 6% 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).