Is it cheaper to live in Bangor or Tulsa?

Tulsa, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Bangor, ME's $1,210, mainly because of electricity costs.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Bangor versus $34,000 in Tulsa.

Which has lower taxes, Bangor or Tulsa?

Bangor is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Tulsa under Oklahoma's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax).

Bangor vs Tulsa Cost of Living 2026

Bangor

Maine

$1,210/mo est.

Tulsa

Oklahoma

$1,030/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 $1,030 in Tulsa, OK. Overall, Tulsa, OK is roughly 15% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bangor, ME, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $58,096 in Bangor, ME and $58,407 in Tulsa, OK — about 1% higher in Tulsa, OK. Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax.

Bangor, ME

Tulsa, OK

Rent

Studio

$800

$786

+2% in Bangor, ME

1 Bedroom

$889

$847

+5% in Bangor, ME

2 Bedroom

$1,136

$1,045

+8% in Bangor, ME

3 Bedroom

$1,224

$1,265

+3% in Tulsa, OK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$206,300

$189,600

+8% in Bangor, ME

Income

Median Household Income

$58,096

$58,407

+1% in Tulsa, OK

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$47,960

$46,670

+3% in Bangor, ME

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

40.7 yr

35.5 yr

+5.2 yr in Bangor, ME

Homeownership

46.9%

52.0%

+5.1 pp in Tulsa, OK

Bachelor's+ (25+)

36.3%

33.3%

+3.0 pp in Bangor, ME

Avg Commute

17.0 min

18.7 min

+1.7 min in Tulsa, OK

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

161.4

948.9

+488% in Tulsa, OK

Property Crime

4,259.8

3,664.6

+14% 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

60.1°F

+15.8°F in Tulsa, OK

Annual Precipitation

41.9 in

43.7 in

+1.8 in in Tulsa, OK

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

14.3

+52% in Bangor, ME

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$31.62

$31.25

+1% 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 Tulsa, OK

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 / OK)

5.5%

4.5%

+1.0 pp in ME

Income Tax (top rate)

7.15%

4.50%

+2.7 pp in ME

Bangor vs Tulsa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bangor or Tulsa?: Tulsa, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Bangor, ME's $1,210, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bangor than in Tulsa?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Bangor versus $34,000 in Tulsa.
Which has lower taxes, Bangor or Tulsa?: Bangor is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Tulsa under Oklahoma's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% 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).