Living Cost Compare
Baton Rouge

Louisiana

$1,000/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 $1,000 in Baton Rouge, LA versus $1,070 in Lewiston, ME. Overall, Baton Rouge, LA is roughly 7% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Lewiston, ME, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $49,944 in Baton Rouge, LA and $56,558 in Lewiston, ME — about 12% higher in Lewiston, ME. Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax; Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Baton Rouge, LA
Lewiston, ME

Rent

Studio
$881
$559
+37% in Baton Rouge, LA
1 Bedroom
$854
$749
+12% in Baton Rouge, LA
2 Bedroom
$1,075
$1,047
+3% in Baton Rouge, LA
3 Bedroom
$1,241
$1,209
+3% in Baton Rouge, LA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$224,500
$214,200
+5% in Baton Rouge, LA

Income

Median Household Income
$49,944
$56,558
+13% in Lewiston, ME
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,710
$49,540
+2% in Lewiston, ME

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.8 yr
37.8 yr
+6.0 yr in Lewiston, ME
Homeownership
46.9%
50.3%
+3.4 pp in Lewiston, ME
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.8%
21.7%
+14.1 pp in Baton Rouge, LA
Avg Commute
21.1 min
20.7 min
+0.4 min in Baton Rouge, LA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
305
244.5
+20% in Baton Rouge, LA
Property Crime
1,756.3
1,616.5
+8% in Baton Rouge, LA

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
68.5°F
45.8°F
+22.7°F in Baton Rouge, LA
Annual Precipitation
60.6 in
51.1 in
+9.5 in in Baton Rouge, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.94/gal
+9% in Lewiston, ME

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
13.5
29.6
+119% in Lewiston, ME
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.62
$31.62
+90% 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 Baton Rouge, LA
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 (LA / ME)
5%
5.5%
+0.5 pp in ME
Income Tax (top rate)
3.00%
7.15%
+4.2 pp in ME

Baton Rouge vs Lewiston — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baton Rouge or Lewiston?
Baton Rouge, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,000 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below Lewiston, ME's $1,070, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baton Rouge than in Lewiston?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Baton Rouge versus $30,000 in Lewiston.
Which has lower taxes, Baton Rouge or Lewiston?
Baton Rouge is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% 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).