Holyoke, MA vs Bangor, ME: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Bangor, ME has a modeled overall cost index 17.0% lower than Holyoke, MA.

Holyoke, MA · modeled 2BR rent: $1,720 / month
Bangor, ME · modeled 2BR rent: $1,680 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Holyoke, MA and Bangor, ME using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

Current salary in Holyoke, MA

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $1,120/month in Bangor, ME

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $136,564 in Bangor, ME

Regional cost estimates: Holyoke, MA uses Boston, MA. Bangor, ME uses Boston, MA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 17.0%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$1,120

Savings

Annual Impact

$13.4K

Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Holyoke, MA

Population:38K

Cost Index:

112.6

100 = national average

Typical Home:$316K

Bangor, ME

Population:32K

Cost Index:

93.4

100 = national average

Typical Home:$291K

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Holyoke, MA

The Bay State

38K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Massachusetts, this city has a population of 38K residents.

Bangor, ME

The Pine Tree State

32K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Maine, this city has a population of 32K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Holyoke, MA vs Bangor, ME

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Category	Holyoke, MA	Bangor, ME	Difference	Change
Housing	$3,145/mo	$2,609/mo	↓ $535less	17.0%
Transportation	$1,212/mo	$1,006/mo	↓ $206less	17.0%
Other	$1,209/mo	$1,003/mo	↓ $206less	17.0%
Groceries	$822/mo	$749/mo	↓ $73.25less	8.9%
Healthcare	$567/mo	$516/mo	↓ $50.47less	8.9%
All Utilities	$545/mo	$497/mo	↓ $48.59less	8.9%

Housing

↓ 17.0%

Holyoke, MA

$3,145

Bangor, ME

$2,609

Difference

$535

less

Transportation

↓ 17.0%

Holyoke, MA

$1,212

Bangor, ME

$1,006

Difference

$206

less

Other

↓ 17.0%

Holyoke, MA

$1,209

Bangor, ME

$1,003

Difference

$206

less

Groceries

↓ 8.9%

Holyoke, MA

$822

Bangor, ME

$749

Difference

$73.25

less

Healthcare

↓ 8.9%

Holyoke, MA

$567

Bangor, ME

$516

Difference

$50.47

less

All Utilities

↓ 8.9%

Holyoke, MA

$545

Bangor, ME

$497

Difference

$48.59

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,210

To$1,260

↑ $50.00

1 Bed

From$1,370

To$1,330

↓ $40.00

2 Bed

From$1,720

To$1,680

↓ $40.00

3 Bed

From$2,110

To$2,160

↑ $50.00

Holyoke, MAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,370–$1,370/mo

Bangor, MEZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,330–$1,330/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500

Monthly in Holyoke, MA

$6,380

Monthly in Bangor, ME

$1,120

Difference

Home Values

Holyoke

Bangor

$316K

Median Value

$291K

↑ +1.7%

YoY Change

↑ +1.7%

↑ +35.3%

5-Year Change

↑ +48.3%

Homes in Bangor are 8% less expensive than Holyoke

Calculate payment - Holyoke Calculate payment - Bangor

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↓ $2.8K

More taxes

Monthly Difference

$232

Less take-home

Effective Rate Diff

1.9%

Rate difference

Holyoke, MA

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Massachusetts State Tax

Effective: 5.0%

$7.5K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 29.7%

$44.5K

Take-Home Pay

$8,791/month

$105.5K

Bangor, ME

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Maine State Tax

Effective: 6.9%

$10.3K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 31.5%

$47.3K

Take-Home Pay

$8,558/month

$102.7K

Additional Tax Information

Holyoke, MA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.3%

Property Tax:1.2%

Bangor, ME Tax Rates

Sales Tax:5.5%

Property Tax:1.3%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Holyoke

Bangor

36 Good

Air Quality

36 Good

79.5%

Good Air Days

79.5%

94 Moderate

Climate Risk

94 Moderate

🌊🌅🌀

Top Hazards

🌊🌅🌀

▲+2.5°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.5°F

6 days

Heat Days >95°F

6 days

▲+2.5°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.5°F

6 days

Heat Days >95°F

6 days

Before moving from Holyoke, MA to Bangor, ME

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Bangor, ME for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Holyoke, MA. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Holyoke to Bangor moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Bangor, ME by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Holyoke, MA vs Bangor, ME

How do the cost estimates for Holyoke, MA and Bangor, ME compare?

Bangor, ME has a modeled overall cost index 17.0% lower than Holyoke, MA. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Holyoke, MA, the model estimates $136,564 in Bangor, ME. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Holyoke, MA and Bangor, ME?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,720/month in Holyoke, MA and $1,680/month in Bangor, ME. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Massachusetts and Maine on TaxTakeHome.com