Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas
A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,280 in Boise, ID versus $1,070 in Lewiston, ME. Overall, Lewiston, ME is roughly 16% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Boise, ID, driven mainly by rent.
Median household income is $81,308 in Boise, ID and $56,558 in Lewiston, ME — about 30% higher in Boise, ID. Idaho has a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax; Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax.
Rent
Buying a Home
Income
People & Lifestyle
Crime (per 100k/yr)
FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.
Climate
Gas
Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs East Coast (PADD 1).
Utilities
Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.
Groceries
Average prices — West vs Northeast (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.
State Taxes
Boise vs Lewiston — FAQ
- Is it cheaper to live in Boise or Lewiston?
- Lewiston, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Boise, ID's $1,280, mainly because of rent.
- How much more do you need to earn to live in Boise than in Lewiston?
- To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year in Boise versus $30,000 in Lewiston.
- Which has lower taxes, Boise or Lewiston?
- Boise is taxed under Idaho's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% 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).