Is it cheaper to live in Cheyenne or Lewiston?

Cheyenne, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $990 (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 Cheyenne than in Lewiston?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Cheyenne versus $30,000 in Lewiston.

Which has lower taxes, Cheyenne or Lewiston?

Cheyenne is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax 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).

Cheyenne vs Lewiston Cost of Living 2026

Cheyenne

Wyoming

$990/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 $990 in Cheyenne, WY versus $1,070 in Lewiston, ME. Overall, Cheyenne, WY is roughly 7% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Lewiston, ME, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $77,176 in Cheyenne, WY and $56,558 in Lewiston, ME — about 27% higher in Cheyenne, WY. Wyoming has no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax; Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Cheyenne, WY

Lewiston, ME

Rent

Studio

$756

$559

+26% in Cheyenne, WY

1 Bedroom

$824

$749

+9% in Cheyenne, WY

2 Bedroom

$1,036

$1,047

+1% in Lewiston, ME

3 Bedroom

$1,478

$1,209

+18% in Cheyenne, WY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$311,200

$214,200

+31% in Cheyenne, WY

Income

Median Household Income

$77,176

$56,558

+27% in Cheyenne, WY

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,540

$49,540

+4% in Cheyenne, WY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.9 yr

37.8 yr

+1.1 yr in Cheyenne, WY

Homeownership

67.7%

50.3%

+17.4 pp in Cheyenne, WY

Bachelor's+ (25+)

32.9%

21.7%

+11.2 pp in Cheyenne, WY

Avg Commute

16.1 min

20.7 min

+4.6 min in Lewiston, ME

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

334.6

244.5

+27% in Cheyenne, WY

Property Crime

3,030.3

1,616.5

+47% in Cheyenne, WY

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

46.5°F

45.8°F

+0.7°F in Cheyenne, WY

Annual Precipitation

15.9 in

51.1 in

+35.2 in in Lewiston, ME

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.27/gal

$3.94/gal

+8% in Cheyenne, WY

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.2

29.6

+94% in Lewiston, ME

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$18.28

$31.62

+73% in Lewiston, ME

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.31

+10% in Cheyenne, WY

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.92

+6% in Cheyenne, WY

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.90

+6% in Cheyenne, WY

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.19

+9% in Lewiston, ME

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.69

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WY / ME)

5.5%

+1.5 pp in ME

Income Tax (top rate)

None

7.15%

+7.2 pp in ME

Cheyenne vs Lewiston — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cheyenne or Lewiston?: Cheyenne, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $990 (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 Cheyenne than in Lewiston?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Cheyenne versus $30,000 in Lewiston.
Which has lower taxes, Cheyenne or Lewiston?: Cheyenne is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax 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).