Bangor, ME vs Portland, ME: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Portland, ME is 5.5% more expensive than Bangor, ME (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Bangor works out to about $79,200 in Portland, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 35.4% more in Portland. Goods are 0.0% higher and other services 0.0% higher.
- Typical asking rent is $2,296 a month in Portland and $1,512 in Bangor, $9,408 a year more in Portland (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $537,000 in Portland and $277,000 in Bangor.
- The gap has widened since 2019, when Portland was 1.0% more expensive than Bangor.
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Housing drives the gap: 35.4% higher in Portland than in Bangor
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Bangor, ME
- Portland, ME
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Bangor, ME | Portland, ME | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 96.5 | 101.9 |
| Goods | 97.2 | 97.2 |
| Housing (rents) | 77.7 | 105.2 |
| Utilities | 134.8 | 134.6 |
| Other services | 103.2 | 103.2 |
| Category | Bangor | Portland | Portland vs Bangor |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 96.5 | 101.9 | +5.5% |
| Goods | 97.2 | 97.2 | 0.0% |
| Housing (rents) | 77.7 | 105.2 | +35.4% |
| Utilities | 134.8 | 134.6 | −0.1% |
| Other services | 103.2 | 103.2 | 0.0% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,512 | $2,296 | +51.9% |
| Typical home value | $277,000 | $537,000 | +93.4% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Bangor | $75,000 | $79,200 | +5.5% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Bangor and Portland has narrowed since 2008: 8.5 points then, 5.4 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Bangor, ME
- Portland, ME
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Bangor, ME | Portland, ME | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 93.9 | 102.5 |
| 2009 | 92.1 | 103.1 |
| 2010 | 96.5 | 100.9 |
| 2011 | 93.9 | 98.6 |
| 2012 | 96.3 | 101.3 |
| 2013 | 99.5 | 103.0 |
| 2014 | 92.1 | 94.5 |
| 2015 | 92.8 | 99.9 |
| 2016 | 93.4 | 102.3 |
| 2017 | 94.6 | 102.2 |
| 2018 | 93.9 | 101.9 |
| 2019 | 96.6 | 97.6 |
| 2020 | 97.5 | 102.6 |
| 2021 | 96.8 | 101.9 |
| 2022 | 96.6 | 104.8 |
| 2023 | 92.3 | 104.4 |
| 2024 | 96.5 | 101.9 |
Goods
- Bangor, ME
- Portland, ME
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Bangor, ME | Portland, ME | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 100.1 | 100.3 |
| 2009 | 100.6 | 100.7 |
| 2010 | 98.0 | 98.2 |
| 2011 | 98.1 | 98.5 |
| 2012 | 98.8 | 99.2 |
| 2013 | 98.2 | 98.6 |
| 2014 | 97.8 | 98.6 |
| 2015 | 99.1 | 99.6 |
| 2016 | 98.6 | 99.3 |
| 2017 | 99.9 | 100.5 |
| 2018 | 100.9 | 100.9 |
| 2019 | 99.4 | 99.4 |
| 2020 | 99.5 | 99.5 |
| 2021 | 99.2 | 99.2 |
| 2022 | 101.1 | 101.1 |
| 2023 | 98.3 | 98.3 |
| 2024 | 97.2 | 97.2 |
Housing (rents)
- Bangor, ME
- Portland, ME
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Bangor, ME | Portland, ME | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 63.0 | 108.3 |
| 2009 | 58.4 | 111.2 |
| 2010 | 83.1 | 107.3 |
| 2011 | 74.9 | 97.3 |
| 2012 | 84.1 | 113.1 |
| 2013 | 96.7 | 119.1 |
| 2014 | 67.2 | 77.2 |
| 2015 | 62.2 | 97.5 |
| 2016 | 66.5 | 113.0 |
| 2017 | 66.4 | 103.7 |
| 2018 | 68.0 | 110.0 |
| 2019 | 75.3 | 79.4 |
| 2020 | 80.5 | 106.2 |
| 2021 | 77.5 | 107.5 |
| 2022 | 63.3 | 106.8 |
| 2023 | 56.1 | 119.4 |
| 2024 | 77.7 | 105.2 |
Utilities
- Bangor, ME
- Portland, ME
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Bangor, ME | Portland, ME | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 138.3 | 137.7 |
| 2009 | 137.5 | 137.1 |
| 2010 | 126.8 | 125.9 |
| 2011 | 125.5 | 125.1 |
| 2012 | 118.6 | 121.5 |
| 2013 | 117.2 | 118.0 |
| 2014 | 120.3 | 120.9 |
| 2015 | 121.0 | 120.6 |
| 2016 | 121.2 | 122.1 |
| 2017 | 123.3 | 125.0 |
| 2018 | 127.5 | 129.3 |
| 2019 | 131.1 | 131.7 |
| 2020 | 133.7 | 135.0 |
| 2021 | 127.9 | 128.4 |
| 2022 | 138.1 | 137.2 |
| 2023 | 148.8 | 146.5 |
| 2024 | 134.8 | 134.6 |
Other services
- Bangor, ME
- Portland, ME
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Bangor, ME | Portland, ME | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 100.7 | 101.2 |
| 2009 | 100.9 | 101.2 |
| 2010 | 99.6 | 100.0 |
| 2011 | 97.9 | 98.3 |
| 2012 | 98.1 | 98.7 |
| 2013 | 100.9 | 100.8 |
| 2014 | 96.4 | 96.9 |
| 2015 | 99.8 | 100.2 |
| 2016 | 100.1 | 100.8 |
| 2017 | 102.0 | 102.4 |
| 2018 | 99.6 | 99.6 |
| 2019 | 101.5 | 101.5 |
| 2020 | 102.8 | 102.8 |
| 2021 | 101.4 | 101.4 |
| 2022 | 106.1 | 106.1 |
| 2023 | 103.3 | 103.3 |
| 2024 | 103.2 | 103.2 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $2,296 in Portland vs $1,512 in Bangor
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Bangor, ME
- Portland, ME
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Bangor, ME | Portland, ME | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | – | $1,178 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | – | $1,254 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | – | $1,253 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | – | $1,234 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | – | $1,289 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | – | $1,317 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | – | $1,347 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | – | $1,294 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | – | $1,330 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | – | $1,374 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | – | $1,381 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $883 | $1,346 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $928 | $1,374 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $937 | $1,429 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $933 | $1,432 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $910 | $1,382 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $939 | $1,456 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $974 | $1,506 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $979 | $1,487 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $966 | $1,462 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $980 | $1,544 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,027 | $1,572 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,043 | $1,601 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,039 | $1,607 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,066 | $1,671 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,127 | $1,744 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,178 | $1,811 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,169 | $1,828 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,191 | $1,875 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,261 | $1,958 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,284 | $2,001 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,268 | $1,969 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,293 | $2,001 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,348 | $2,077 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,316 | $2,100 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,351 | $2,039 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,393 | $2,097 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,383 | $2,159 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,407 | $2,176 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,409 | $2,130 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,420 | $2,172 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,458 | $2,241 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,449 | $2,247 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,457 | $2,200 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,502 | $2,249 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,510 | $2,298 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,512 | $2,296 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $537,000 in Portland vs $277,000 in Bangor
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Bangor, ME
- Portland, ME
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Bangor, ME | Portland, ME | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $136K | $241K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $138K | $244K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $139K | $249K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $138K | $253K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $138K | $255K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $139K | $260K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $140K | $264K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $141K | $270K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $142K | $275K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $143K | $281K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $145K | $286K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $146K | $290K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $150K | $293K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $152K | $300K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $154K | $306K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $157K | $308K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $157K | $310K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $156K | $313K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $158K | $316K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $161K | $321K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $163K | $328K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $167K | $335K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $173K | $345K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $184K | $365K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $192K | $385K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $204K | $410K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $211K | $423K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $214K | $426K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $226K | $448K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $238K | $477K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $239K | $475K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $238K | $472K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $242K | $477K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $249K | $492K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $254K | $506K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $256K | $512K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $259K | $516K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $264K | $523K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $265K | $525K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $269K | $527K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $274K | $527K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $273K | $528K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $272K | $526K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $274K | $529K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $276K | $533K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $279K | $533K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $277K | $537K | $366K |
More about each city
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.