Is Lewiston expensive to live in?

Lewiston is among the more affordable of the 158 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $749 per month ranks #151 of 158 and is 28% lower than the $1,043 median.

What is the average rent in Lewiston?

Average rent in Lewiston, ME runs a studio around $559, a one-bedroom around $749, a two-bedroom around $1,047, a three-bedroom around $1,209 per month (US Census ACS).

How much do you need to earn to live in Lewiston?

To keep a one-bedroom rent of $749 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $30,000 a year. The median household income here is $56,558.

How much does it cost to live in Lewiston per month?

A rough monthly baseline for one person in Lewiston is about $1,070 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Cost of Living in Lewiston, ME

Population 37,886 · Maine

~$1,070/mo est.1BR $749Home $214,200

Compare with:

The cost of living in Lewiston, ME is driven mostly by housing. A one-bedroom apartment rents for around $749 a month — 28% lower than the $1,043 median across the 158 large US cities we track. Studios average $559 and two-bedrooms $1,047.

Median household income here is $56,558, 16% lower than the $67,696 median of the cities we track. Adding typical electricity and heating to one-bedroom rent, a rough monthly baseline for one person is about $1,070 before food and transport. Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Rent1BR $749

Studio

$559

1 Bedroom

$749

2 Bedroom

$1,047

3 Bedroom

$1,209

Buying a Home$214,200

Median Home Value

$214,200

Income$56,558

Median Household Income

$56,558

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,540

Household income: Census ACS, city. Metro median wage: BLS OEWS, all occupations, 2025 (metro area).

GroceriesNortheast

Milk (gal)

$4.31

Bread (lb)

$1.92

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

Average prices, Northeast (BLS, 2026-07-01). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

Utilities29.6¢/kWh

Electricity

29.6¢/kWh

Natural Gas

$31.62/MCF

Residential, state-level averages (EIA, 2026-06-01). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Gas$3.94/gal

Regular Gasoline (East Coast (PADD 1))

$3.94/gal

EIA weekly retail average, week of 2026-08-31.

State Taxes (ME)5.5% sales

State Sales Tax

5.50%

State Income Tax (top rate)

Up to 7.15%

State-level rates. Local sales taxes may add more. Income tax shown is the top marginal rate; most filers pay less.

Crime244.5 violent

Violent Crime (per 100k/yr)

244.5

Property Crime (per 100k/yr)

1,616.5

FBI Crime Data Explorer, Lewiston Police Department (2024). Offenses per 100,000 residents per year. Agency reporting practices vary, so cross-city comparisons are approximate.

People & LifestyleAge 37.8 yrs

Median Age

37.8 yrs

Homeownership

50.3%

Bachelor's+ (25+)

21.7%

Avg Commute

20.7 min

Climate45.8°F

Avg Annual Temperature

45.8°F

Annual Precipitation

51.1 in

Lewiston cost of living — FAQ

Is Lewiston expensive to live in?: Lewiston is among the more affordable of the 158 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $749 per month ranks #151 of 158 and is 28% lower than the $1,043 median.
What is the average rent in Lewiston?: Average rent in Lewiston, ME runs a studio around $559, a one-bedroom around $749, a two-bedroom around $1,047, a three-bedroom around $1,209 per month (US Census ACS).
How much do you need to earn to live in Lewiston?: To keep a one-bedroom rent of $749 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $30,000 a year. The median household income here is $56,558.
How much does it cost to live in Lewiston per month?: A rough monthly baseline for one person in Lewiston is about $1,070 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Compare Lewiston with nearby cities

Lewiston vs Portland Lewiston vs Bangor Lewiston vs Concord Lewiston vs Manchester Lewiston vs Nashua Lewiston vs Cambridge

Nearby cities

Portland, ME 31 mi Bangor, ME 86 mi Concord, NH 90 mi Manchester, NH 98 mi Nashua, NH 112 mi Cambridge, MA 128 mi

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981-2010 (climate); EIA (gas, utilities); BLS Average Price Data (groceries) & OEWS (metro wage); transit agencies (fares); FBI Crime Data Explorer (crime); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes). Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + utilities; not a full cost of living.