Living Cost Compare
Ann Arbor

Michigan

$1,630/mo est.

vs
Lewiston

Maine

$1,070/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,630 in Ann Arbor, MI versus $1,070 in Lewiston, ME. Overall, Lewiston, ME is roughly 34% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Ann Arbor, MI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $81,089 in Ann Arbor, MI and $56,558 in Lewiston, ME — about 30% higher in Ann Arbor, MI. Michigan has a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% state sales tax; Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Ann Arbor, MI
Lewiston, ME

Rent

Studio
$1,274
$559
+56% in Ann Arbor, MI
1 Bedroom
$1,389
$749
+46% in Ann Arbor, MI
2 Bedroom
$1,692
$1,047
+38% in Ann Arbor, MI
3 Bedroom
$1,812
$1,209
+33% in Ann Arbor, MI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$435,100
$214,200
+51% in Ann Arbor, MI

Income

Median Household Income
$81,089
$56,558
+30% in Ann Arbor, MI
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$55,380
$49,540
+11% in Ann Arbor, MI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
27.7 yr
37.8 yr
+10.1 yr in Lewiston, ME
Homeownership
45.6%
50.3%
+4.7 pp in Lewiston, ME
Bachelor's+ (25+)
77.7%
21.7%
+56.0 pp in Ann Arbor, MI
Avg Commute
19.9 min
20.7 min
+0.8 min in Lewiston, ME

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
311
244.5
+21% in Ann Arbor, MI
Property Crime
1,744.5
1,616.5
+7% in Ann Arbor, MI

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
47.7°F
45.8°F
+1.9°F in Ann Arbor, MI
Annual Precipitation
32.8 in
51.1 in
+18.3 in in Lewiston, ME

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in Lewiston, ME

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
23.0
29.6
+29% in Lewiston, ME
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$19.72
$31.62
+60% in Lewiston, ME

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.92
+16% in Lewiston, ME
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Ann Arbor, MI
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.90
+2% in Lewiston, ME
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.19
+4% in Lewiston, ME
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in Lewiston, ME

Average prices — Midwest vs Northeast (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MI / ME)
6%
5.5%
+0.5 pp in MI
Income Tax (top rate)
4.25%
7.15%
+2.9 pp in ME

Ann Arbor vs Lewiston — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Ann Arbor or Lewiston?
Lewiston, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 34% below Ann Arbor, MI's $1,630, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Ann Arbor than in Lewiston?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $56,000 a year in Ann Arbor versus $30,000 in Lewiston.
Which has lower taxes, Ann Arbor or Lewiston?
Ann Arbor is taxed under Michigan's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% state sales tax); Lewiston under Maine's (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).