Living Cost Compare
Bangor

Maine

$1,210/mo est.

vs
Virginia Beach

Virginia

$1,560/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 $1,560 in Virginia Beach, VA. Overall, Bangor, ME is roughly 22% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Virginia Beach, VA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,096 in Bangor, ME and $90,685 in Virginia Beach, VA — about 36% higher in Virginia Beach, VA. Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.

Bangor, ME
Virginia Beach, VA

Rent

Studio
$800
$1,496
+87% in Virginia Beach, VA
1 Bedroom
$889
$1,357
+53% in Virginia Beach, VA
2 Bedroom
$1,136
$1,559
+37% in Virginia Beach, VA
3 Bedroom
$1,224
$1,857
+52% in Virginia Beach, VA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$206,300
$366,300
+78% in Virginia Beach, VA

Income

Median Household Income
$58,096
$90,685
+56% in Virginia Beach, VA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,960
$49,430
+3% in Virginia Beach, VA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
40.7 yr
37.4 yr
+3.3 yr in Bangor, ME
Homeownership
46.9%
64.9%
+18.0 pp in Virginia Beach, VA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
36.3%
40.4%
+4.1 pp in Virginia Beach, VA
Avg Commute
17.0 min
23.2 min
+6.2 min in Virginia Beach, VA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
161.4
96.9
+40% in Bangor, ME
Property Crime
4,259.8
1,664.9
+61% 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
59.9°F
+15.6°F in Virginia Beach, VA
Annual Precipitation
41.9 in
44.3 in
+2.4 in in Virginia Beach, VA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.94/gal
about equal

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
29.6
17.2
+42% in Bangor, ME
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$31.62
$27.20
+14% 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 Virginia Beach, VA
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 / VA)
5.5%
5.3%
+0.2 pp in ME
Income Tax (top rate)
7.15%
5.75%
+1.4 pp in ME

Bangor vs Virginia Beach — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bangor or Virginia Beach?
Bangor, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,210 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 22% below Virginia Beach, VA's $1,560, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bangor than in Virginia Beach?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Bangor versus $54,000 in Virginia Beach.
Which has lower taxes, Bangor or Virginia Beach?
Bangor is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Virginia Beach under Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% 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).