Is it cheaper to live in Bangor or Wilmington?

Bangor, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,210 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Wilmington, DE's $1,250, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Bangor versus $41,000 in Wilmington.

Which has lower taxes, Bangor or Wilmington?

Bangor is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Wilmington under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax).

Bangor vs Wilmington Cost of Living 2026

Bangor

Maine

$1,210/mo est.

Wilmington

Delaware

$1,250/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 $1,250 in Wilmington, DE. Overall, Bangor, ME is roughly 3% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Wilmington, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,096 in Bangor, ME and $55,269 in Wilmington, DE — about 5% higher in Bangor, ME. Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Bangor, ME

Wilmington, DE

Rent

Studio

$800

$1,103

+38% in Wilmington, DE

1 Bedroom

$889

$1,024

+15% in Wilmington, DE

2 Bedroom

$1,136

$1,213

+7% in Wilmington, DE

3 Bedroom

$1,224

$1,394

+14% in Wilmington, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$206,300

$224,500

+9% in Wilmington, DE

Income

Median Household Income

$58,096

$55,269

+5% in Bangor, ME

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$47,960

$54,310

+13% in Wilmington, DE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

40.7 yr

37.0 yr

+3.7 yr in Bangor, ME

Homeownership

46.9%

46.0%

+0.9 pp in Bangor, ME

Bachelor's+ (25+)

36.3%

33.1%

+3.2 pp in Bangor, ME

Avg Commute

17.0 min

23.0 min

+6.0 min in Wilmington, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

161.4

1,138.2

+605% in Wilmington, DE

Property Crime

4,259.8

3,182.4

+25% 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

54.9°F

+10.6°F in Wilmington, DE

Annual Precipitation

41.9 in

43.1 in

+1.1 in in Wilmington, DE

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

29.6

19.3

+35% in Bangor, ME

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$31.62

$29.73

+6% 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 Wilmington, DE

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 / DE)

5.5%

None

+5.5 pp in ME

Income Tax (top rate)

7.15%

6.60%

+0.6 pp in ME

Bangor vs Wilmington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bangor or Wilmington?: Bangor, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,210 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Wilmington, DE's $1,250, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bangor than in Wilmington?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Bangor versus $41,000 in Wilmington.
Which has lower taxes, Bangor or Wilmington?: Bangor is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Wilmington under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no 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).