CostIndexUSA

Bangor, ME vs Durham, NC Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableME
Bangor
96.5
overall index
$1,550/mo rent
NC
Durham
97.6
overall index
$1,650/mo rent

Bangor is slightly cheaper than Durham — 1.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Bangor, you would need $80,900 in Durham. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+27.3%
Bangor
77.7
Durham
98.9
🛒 Groceries0.6%
Bangor
97.2
Durham
96.6
🚗 Transportation4.9%
Bangor
108.4
Durham
103.1
🏥 Healthcare4.8%
Bangor
98
Durham
93.3
Utilities33.8%
Bangor
134.8
Durham
89.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Bangor to see what you'd need to earn in Durham to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Durham, NC
$80,900
$900 more needed in Durham

Formula: salary × (97.6 ÷ 96.5) = salary × 1.0114. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Bangor, ME

Median Home Price
$265,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,550
Housing Index
77.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.2×

Durham, NC

Median Home Price
$402,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,650
Housing Index
98.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
20.3×

Durham has 27.3% higher housing costs compared to Bangor.

Income & Job Market

Bangor, ME

Median Household Income
$66,300
Per Capita Income
$37,800
Unemployment Rate
2.5%
Population
31,753
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationRetailManufacturingGovernment

Durham, NC

Median Household Income
$83,300
Per Capita Income
$47,500
Unemployment Rate
3.2%
Population
278,993
Top Industries
TechnologyHealthcareEducationResearchFinance

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Bangor, ME
3.6×income-to-rent ratio

72% of income left after rent (median)

Durham, NC
4.2×income-to-rent ratio

76% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.