Is it cheaper to live in Baltimore or Lewiston?

Lewiston, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below Baltimore, MD's $1,300, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Baltimore than in Lewiston?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Baltimore versus $30,000 in Lewiston.

Which has lower taxes, Baltimore or Lewiston?

Baltimore is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% 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).

Baltimore vs Lewiston Cost of Living 2026

Baltimore

Maryland

$1,300/mo est.

Lewiston

Maine

$1,070/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,300 in Baltimore, MD versus $1,070 in Lewiston, ME. Overall, Lewiston, ME is roughly 18% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Baltimore, MD, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $59,623 in Baltimore, MD and $56,558 in Lewiston, ME — about 5% higher in Baltimore, MD. Maryland has a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Baltimore, MD

Lewiston, ME

Rent

Studio

$1,050

$559

+47% in Baltimore, MD

1 Bedroom

$1,073

$749

+30% in Baltimore, MD

2 Bedroom

$1,353

$1,047

+23% in Baltimore, MD

3 Bedroom

$1,555

$1,209

+22% in Baltimore, MD

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$219,300

$214,200

+2% in Baltimore, MD

Income

Median Household Income

$59,623

$56,558

+5% in Baltimore, MD

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$59,070

$49,540

+16% in Baltimore, MD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.1 yr

37.8 yr

+1.7 yr in Lewiston, ME

Homeownership

47.5%

50.3%

+2.8 pp in Lewiston, ME

Bachelor's+ (25+)

35.4%

21.7%

+13.7 pp in Baltimore, MD

Avg Commute

29.4 min

20.7 min

+8.7 min in Baltimore, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,616.7

244.5

+85% in Baltimore, MD

Property Crime

4,202.6

1,616.5

+62% in Baltimore, MD

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

61.4°F

45.8°F

+15.6°F in Baltimore, MD

Annual Precipitation

42.4 in

51.1 in

+8.7 in in Lewiston, ME

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

about equal

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.00

—

Adult base one-way fare — MTA Maryland vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

21.8

29.6

+35% in Lewiston, ME

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$22.57

$31.62

+40% in Lewiston, ME

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 Baltimore, MD

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 (MD / ME)

5.5%

+0.5 pp in MD

Income Tax (top rate)

6.50%

7.15%

+0.7 pp in ME

Baltimore vs Lewiston — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baltimore or Lewiston?: Lewiston, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below Baltimore, MD's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baltimore than in Lewiston?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Baltimore versus $30,000 in Lewiston.
Which has lower taxes, Baltimore or Lewiston?: Baltimore is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% 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).