Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Bangor, ME and Seattle, WA

For one person, living is cheaper in Bangor, ME: $2,256 a month against $3,785 in Seattle, WA, rent and utilities included – about $18,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

108

Cost of Living Index in Bangor, ME
Learn more

Bangor, ME Living Index
184

Cost of Living Index in Seattle, WA
Learn more

Seattle, WA Living Index

Jump to prices

Bangor, ME

🇺🇸 United States

$2,256

/mo nomad

Seattle, WA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,785

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Bangor, ME and in Seattle, WA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Bangor, ME and in Seattle, WA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,256 per month in Bangor, ME vs $3,785 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

Bangor, ME $2,256
Seattle, WA $3,785

A couple spends around $3,339 per month in Bangor, ME vs $5,688 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

Bangor, ME $3,339
Seattle, WA $5,688

A family of three spends $4,423 per month in Bangor, ME vs $7,592 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

Bangor, ME $4,423
Seattle, WA $7,592

Bangor, ME is about 40% cheaper than Seattle, WA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Bangor, ME and Seattle, WA sit above the global median – Bangor, ME by 66%, Seattle, WA by 178%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.90 $15.90

$25.30 $25.30

-37.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$68.6 $68.6

$101 $101

-32.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.22 $12.22

$14.76 $14.76

-17.21%

Cappuccino

$5.58 $5.58

$6.50 $6.50

-14.15%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 $2.82

$3.21 $3.21

-12.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$3.14 $3.14

-21.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.95 $4.95

$7.97 $7.97

-37.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.39 $7.39

$8.13 $8.13

-9.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 $1.12

$1.17 $1.17

-4.27%

White Bread (500g)

$4.81 $4.81

$5.30 $5.30

-9.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.90 $1.90

$6.40 $6.40

-70.31%

Eggs

$4.05 $4.05

$5.06 $5.06

-19.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.64 $13.64

$18.71 $18.71

-27.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.91 $8.91

$18.72 $18.72

-52.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.11 $19.11

$22.88 $22.88

-16.48%

Apples (1kg)

$4.78 $4.78

$6.06 $6.06

-21.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 $1.50

$1.95 $1.95

-23.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.84 $5.84

$5.51 $5.51

5.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.84 $6.84

$6.52 $6.52

4.91%

Potato (1kg)

$2.41 $2.41

$3.49 $3.49

-30.95%

Onion (1kg)

$3.75 $3.75

$3.29 $3.29

13.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.80 $2.80

-38.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.65 $1.65

$2.58 $2.58

-36.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.04 $10.04

$12.49 $12.49

-19.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.71 $14.71

$14.87 $14.87

-1.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.93 $1.93

$4.19 $4.19

-53.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$5.80 $5.80

-54.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.97 $1.97

$3.05 $3.05

-35.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.84 $29.84

$106 $106

-71.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.07 $3.07

$2.58 $2.58

18.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.14 $2.14

$1.64 $1.64

30.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.96 $10.96

$30.12 $30.12

-63.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.92 $0.92

$1.41 $1.41

-34.75%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$23.7K $23.7K

$36.8K $36.8K

-35.71%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.9K $25.9K

$26.6K $26.6K

-2.71%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$229 $229

$308 $308

-25.50%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$51.7 $51.7

$69.2 $69.2

-25.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$79.3 $79.3

$86.1 $86.1

-7.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.24 $49.24

$76.5 $76.5

-35.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.95 $11.95

$35.50 $35.50

-66.34%

Cinema Ticket

$10.79 $10.79

$18.02 $18.02

-40.12%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,507 $1,507

$2,746 $2,746

-45.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.6K $30.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.8 $52.8

$79.2 $79.2

-33.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.41 $29.41

$54.3 $54.3

-45.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.9 $76.9

$127 $127

-39.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$66.0 $66.0

$159 $159

-58.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,042 $1,042

$2,508 $2,508

-58.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$979 $979

$1,938 $1,938

-49.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,866 $1,866

$5,117 $5,117

-63.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,665 $1,665

$3,542 $3,542

-52.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,011 $2,011

$7,374 $7,374

-72.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,992 $1,992

$5,002 $5,002

-60.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,835 $4,835

$6,470 $6,470

-25.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.49

6.89

-5.81%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Bangor, ME: October 26, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Bangor, ME

$979 43.4%

Seattle, WA

$1.9K 51.2% 98% $960

Groceries & Markets

Bangor, ME

$402 17.8%

Seattle, WA

$547 14.5% 36.1% $145

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Bangor, ME

$360 16%

Seattle, WA

$463 12.2% 28.5% $103

Eating Out

Bangor, ME

$292 12.9%

Seattle, WA

$406 10.7% 39.3% $115

Clothing & Footwear

Bangor, ME

$101 4.5%

Seattle, WA

$189 5% 86.2% $87

Sport & Entertainment

Bangor, ME

$71 3.1%

Seattle, WA

$112 3% 58.8% $42

Getting Around

Bangor, ME

$51 2.3%

Seattle, WA

$129 3.4% 151% $78

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,042 in Bangor, ME versus $2,508 in Seattle, WA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 34% higher in Seattle, WA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $69 in Bangor, ME versus $101 in Seattle, WA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $402 vs $547 – making Bangor, ME the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Bangor, ME

🇺🇸 Seattle, WA

🕒 Local time

23:51 11:51 PM

20:51 8:51 PM

3 h behind Bangor, ME

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

31,753

737,015

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.896 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Bangor, ME Seattle, WA 4,050 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight

From you

Bangor, ME
Seattle, WA

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Bangor, ME vs Seattle, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA costs about 68% more than Bangor, ME, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,384 per month in Bangor, ME and $5,677 in Seattle, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bangor, ME, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,042 there versus $2,508 in Seattle, WA.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $69 in Bangor, ME and $101 in Seattle, WA. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,256 in Bangor, ME and $3,785 in Seattle, WA. That makes Bangor, ME about 40% cheaper.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,256 in Bangor, ME and $3,785 in Seattle, WA. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Bangor, ME – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Bangor, ME. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Seattle, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.