Living Cost Compare
Cincinnati

Ohio

$1,030/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 $1,030 in Cincinnati, OH versus $1,070 in Lewiston, ME. Overall, Cincinnati, OH is roughly 4% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Lewiston, ME, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $51,707 in Cincinnati, OH and $56,558 in Lewiston, ME — about 9% higher in Lewiston, ME. Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax; Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$791
$559
+29% in Cincinnati, OH
1 Bedroom
$817
$749
+8% in Cincinnati, OH
2 Bedroom
$1,023
$1,047
+2% in Lewiston, ME
3 Bedroom
$1,228
$1,209
+2% in Cincinnati, OH

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$215,300
$214,200
+1% in Cincinnati, OH

Income

Median Household Income
$51,707
$56,558
+9% in Lewiston, ME
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$50,170
$49,540
+1% in Cincinnati, OH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.0 yr
37.8 yr
+4.8 yr in Lewiston, ME
Homeownership
38.9%
50.3%
+11.4 pp in Lewiston, ME
Bachelor's+ (25+)
41.3%
21.7%
+19.6 pp in Cincinnati, OH
Avg Commute
23.1 min
20.7 min
+2.4 min in Cincinnati, OH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
856.5
244.5
+71% in Cincinnati, OH
Property Crime
3,877.7
1,616.5
+58% in Cincinnati, OH

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
54.3°F
45.8°F
+8.5°F in Cincinnati, OH
Annual Precipitation
41.9 in
51.1 in
+9.2 in in Lewiston, ME

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.80/gal
$3.94/gal
+4% in Lewiston, ME

Area: Ohio vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.2
29.6
+54% in Lewiston, ME
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.83
$31.62
+39% in Lewiston, ME

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.92
+16% in Lewiston, ME
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Cincinnati, OH
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.90
+2% in Lewiston, ME
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.19
+4% in Lewiston, ME
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in Lewiston, ME

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OH / ME)
5.75%
5.5%
+0.3 pp in OH
Income Tax (top rate)
2.75%
7.15%
+4.4 pp in ME

Cincinnati vs Lewiston — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cincinnati or Lewiston?
Cincinnati, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Lewiston, ME's $1,070, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cincinnati than in Lewiston?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Cincinnati versus $30,000 in Lewiston.
Which has lower taxes, Cincinnati or Lewiston?
Cincinnati is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% 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).