Is it cheaper to live in Cleveland or Lewiston?

Cleveland, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below Lewiston, ME's $1,070, mainly because of electricity costs.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cleveland versus $30,000 in Lewiston.

Which has lower taxes, Cleveland or Lewiston?

Cleveland 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).

Cleveland vs Lewiston Cost of Living 2026

Cleveland

Ohio

$940/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 $940 in Cleveland, OH versus $1,070 in Lewiston, ME. Overall, Cleveland, OH is roughly 12% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Lewiston, ME, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $39,187 in Cleveland, OH and $56,558 in Lewiston, ME — about 31% 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.

Cleveland, OH

Lewiston, ME

Rent

Studio

$678

$559

+18% in Cleveland, OH

1 Bedroom

$732

$749

+2% in Lewiston, ME

2 Bedroom

$903

$1,047

+16% in Lewiston, ME

3 Bedroom

$1,081

$1,209

+12% in Lewiston, ME

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$94,100

$214,200

+128% in Lewiston, ME

Income

Median Household Income

$39,187

$56,558

+44% in Lewiston, ME

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$50,140

$49,540

+1% in Cleveland, OH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.3 yr

37.8 yr

+1.5 yr in Lewiston, ME

Homeownership

41.2%

50.3%

+9.1 pp in Lewiston, ME

Bachelor's+ (25+)

21.3%

21.7%

+0.4 pp in Lewiston, ME

Avg Commute

22.9 min

20.7 min

+2.2 min in Cleveland, OH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,582

244.5

+85% in Cleveland, OH

Property Crime

4,531.3

1,616.5

+64% in Cleveland, OH

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

52.7°F

45.8°F

+6.9°F in Cleveland, OH

Annual Precipitation

36.4 in

51.1 in

+14.8 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

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$1.92

+16% in Lewiston, ME

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Cleveland, 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

Cleveland vs Lewiston — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cleveland or Lewiston?: Cleveland, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below Lewiston, ME's $1,070, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cleveland than in Lewiston?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cleveland versus $30,000 in Lewiston.
Which has lower taxes, Cleveland or Lewiston?: Cleveland 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).