Living Cost Compare
Des Moines

Iowa

$1,050/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 $1,050 in Des Moines, IA versus $1,070 in Lewiston, ME. Overall, Des Moines, IA is roughly 2% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Lewiston, ME, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,966 in Des Moines, IA and $56,558 in Lewiston, ME — about 12% higher in Des Moines, IA. Iowa has a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax; Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Des Moines, IA
Lewiston, ME

Rent

Studio
$870
$559
+36% in Des Moines, IA
1 Bedroom
$870
$749
+14% in Des Moines, IA
2 Bedroom
$1,099
$1,047
+5% in Des Moines, IA
3 Bedroom
$1,334
$1,209
+9% in Des Moines, IA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$183,700
$214,200
+17% in Lewiston, ME

Income

Median Household Income
$63,966
$56,558
+12% in Des Moines, IA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,820
$49,540
+4% in Des Moines, IA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.6 yr
37.8 yr
+3.2 yr in Lewiston, ME
Homeownership
60.4%
50.3%
+10.1 pp in Des Moines, IA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
29.0%
21.7%
+7.3 pp in Des Moines, IA
Avg Commute
19.6 min
20.7 min
+1.1 min in Lewiston, ME

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
707.3
244.5
+65% in Des Moines, IA
Property Crime
3,156.6
1,616.5
+49% in Des Moines, IA

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
50.9°F
45.8°F
+5.1°F in Des Moines, IA
Annual Precipitation
36.0 in
51.1 in
+15.1 in in Lewiston, ME

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in Lewiston, ME

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.9
29.6
+86% in Lewiston, ME
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.16
$31.62
+43% 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 Des Moines, IA
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 (IA / ME)
6%
5.5%
+0.5 pp in IA
Income Tax (top rate)
3.80%
7.15%
+3.4 pp in ME

Des Moines vs Lewiston — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Des Moines or Lewiston?
Des Moines, IA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,050 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Lewiston, ME's $1,070, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Des Moines than in Lewiston?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Des Moines versus $30,000 in Lewiston.
Which has lower taxes, Des Moines or Lewiston?
Des Moines is taxed under Iowa's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.80% 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).