Living Cost Compare
Evansville

Indiana

$970/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 $970 in Evansville, IN versus $1,070 in Lewiston, ME. Overall, Evansville, IN is roughly 9% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Lewiston, ME, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $52,251 in Evansville, IN and $56,558 in Lewiston, ME — about 8% higher in Lewiston, ME. Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax; Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Evansville, IN
Lewiston, ME

Rent

Studio
$741
$559
+25% in Evansville, IN
1 Bedroom
$768
$749
+2% in Evansville, IN
2 Bedroom
$1,022
$1,047
+2% in Lewiston, ME
3 Bedroom
$1,167
$1,209
+4% in Lewiston, ME

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$129,100
$214,200
+66% in Lewiston, ME

Income

Median Household Income
$52,251
$56,558
+8% in Lewiston, ME
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,540
$49,540
+6% in Lewiston, ME

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.1 yr
37.8 yr
+0.3 yr in Evansville, IN
Homeownership
53.9%
50.3%
+3.6 pp in Evansville, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
22.3%
21.7%
+0.6 pp in Evansville, IN
Avg Commute
18.7 min
20.7 min
+2.0 min in Lewiston, ME

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,210.5
244.5
+80% in Evansville, IN
Property Crime
3,716.2
1,616.5
+57% in Evansville, IN

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
56.4°F
45.8°F
+10.6°F in Evansville, IN
Annual Precipitation
45.3 in
51.1 in
+5.8 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)
17.5
29.6
+69% in Lewiston, ME
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.52
$31.62
+29% 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 Evansville, IN
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 (IN / ME)
7%
5.5%
+1.5 pp in IN
Income Tax (top rate)
2.95%
7.15%
+4.2 pp in ME

Evansville vs Lewiston — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Evansville or Lewiston?
Evansville, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below Lewiston, ME's $1,070, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Evansville than in Lewiston?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Evansville versus $30,000 in Lewiston.
Which has lower taxes, Evansville or Lewiston?
Evansville is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% 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).