Living Cost Compare
Augusta

Georgia

$1,130/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 $1,130 in Augusta, GA versus $1,070 in Lewiston, ME. Overall, Lewiston, ME is roughly 5% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Augusta, GA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $53,134 in Augusta, GA and $56,558 in Lewiston, ME — about 6% higher in Lewiston, ME. Georgia has a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax; Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$784
$559
+29% in Augusta, GA
1 Bedroom
$916
$749
+18% in Augusta, GA
2 Bedroom
$1,035
$1,047
+1% in Lewiston, ME
3 Bedroom
$1,230
$1,209
+2% in Augusta, GA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$162,900
$214,200
+31% in Lewiston, ME

Income

Median Household Income
$53,134
$56,558
+6% in Lewiston, ME
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$45,990
$49,540
+8% in Lewiston, ME

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.9 yr
37.8 yr
+2.9 yr in Lewiston, ME
Homeownership
50.9%
50.3%
+0.6 pp in Augusta, GA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
24.2%
21.7%
+2.5 pp in Augusta, GA
Avg Commute
20.6 min
20.7 min
+0.1 min in Lewiston, ME

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
546.7
244.5
+55% in Augusta, GA
Property Crime
3,652
1,616.5
+56% in Augusta, GA

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
65.2°F
45.8°F
+19.4°F in Augusta, GA
Annual Precipitation
46.5 in
51.1 in
+4.6 in in Lewiston, ME

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.94/gal
about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.4
29.6
+81% in Lewiston, ME
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$38.60
$31.62
+18% in Augusta, GA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Lewiston, ME
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.92
+10% in Lewiston, ME
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Augusta, GA
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.90
+7% in Lewiston, ME
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.19
+15% in Lewiston, ME
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in Lewiston, ME

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (GA / ME)
4%
5.5%
+1.5 pp in ME
Income Tax (top rate)
5.19%
7.15%
+2.0 pp in ME

Augusta vs Lewiston — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Augusta or Lewiston?
Lewiston, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Augusta, GA's $1,130, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Augusta than in Lewiston?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $37,000 a year in Augusta versus $30,000 in Lewiston.
Which has lower taxes, Augusta or Lewiston?
Augusta is taxed under Georgia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% 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).