Bangor vs Raleigh
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026 Data
Bangor
Raleigh
💡 The Verdict
Raleigh is 5% cheaper than Bangor overall. A $75,000 salary in Bangor is equivalent to $71,495 in Raleigh.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values for Bangor (left) vs Raleigh (right). National average = 100.
Detailed Price Comparison
Estimated item-level prices in Bangor versus Raleigh. Differences shown from Bangor perspective.
| Item | Bangor | Raleigh | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Bed Rent | $990/mo | $1,010/mo | $-20.00 |
| 2-Bed Rent | $1,370/mo | $1,500/mo | $-130.00 |
| 3-Bed Rent | $1,760/mo | $1,950/mo | $-190.00 |
| Bread (loaf) | $3.24 | $2.89 | +$0.35 |
| Milk (gallon) | $4.13 | $3.88 | +$0.25 |
| Eggs (dozen) | $3.66 | $3.31 | +$0.35 |
| Coffee (latte) | $6.03 | $5.93 | +$0.10 |
| Gas (gallon) | $3.56 | $3.37 | +$0.19 |
| Restaurant Meal | $20.04 | $18.36 | +$1.68 |
💰 Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Bangor has the same purchasing power as $71,495 in Raleigh.
Conversely, $75,000 in Raleigh equals $78,676 in Bangor.
💼 Take-Home Pay Comparison
Estimated annual take-home pay on a $75,000 salary after federal, FICA, and state income taxes.
The $675 difference is driven by Maine having a higher state income tax rate. Maine details → · North Carolina details →
Reading These Numbers: Bangor (107) vs Raleigh (102)
Bangor at 107 is 7% above the US average, while Raleigh at 102 is 2% above average. The cost difference between these cities is relatively modest.
In Bangor, the composite index of 107 reflects a weighted calculation where housing carries the most influence at 104, followed by groceries (109), utilities (109), transportation (111), and healthcare (114). Costs are fairly balanced across categories.
For renters: With median rents of $1,370/mo in Bangor and $1,500/mo in Raleigh, the annual rent difference is approximately $1,560.0. Over a 5-year period, that compounds to $7,800.0 in savings by choosing the more affordable city.
For homebuyers: The $25,000.0 difference in median home prices between Bangor and Raleigh translates to meaningful differences in mortgage payments at current rates. Factor this into your budget alongside property taxes and insurance, which also vary by location.
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Making Your Decision: Bangor vs Raleigh
Choosing between Bangor and Raleigh involves more than just comparing index numbers. Consider how each category aligns with your personal spending patterns. If you work from home, transportation costs matter less than housing and utilities. If you eat out frequently, the groceries index may understate your actual food spending — look at the restaurant meal prices in the detailed comparison table above instead.
Long-term affordability in Bangor versus Raleigh depends partly on cost trajectory. Cities experiencing rapid population growth tend to see costs rise faster than established metros where supply has caught up with demand. While our index captures current conditions, consider whether the city trending cheaper today might converge toward average over the next five to ten years as more people discover it. Our quarterly updates help track these shifts over time.