Is it cheaper to live in Fairbanks or Lewiston?

Lewiston, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 21% below Fairbanks, AK's $1,350, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Fairbanks versus $30,000 in Lewiston.

Which has lower taxes, Fairbanks or Lewiston?

Fairbanks is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Lewiston under Maine's (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax).

Fairbanks vs Lewiston Cost of Living 2026

Fairbanks

Alaska

$1,350/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 $1,350 in Fairbanks, AK versus $1,070 in Lewiston, ME. Overall, Lewiston, ME is roughly 21% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Fairbanks, AK, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $72,077 in Fairbanks, AK and $56,558 in Lewiston, ME — about 22% higher in Fairbanks, AK. Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax; Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Fairbanks, AK

Lewiston, ME

Rent

Studio

$883

$559

+37% in Fairbanks, AK

1 Bedroom

$1,076

$749

+30% in Fairbanks, AK

2 Bedroom

$1,428

$1,047

+27% in Fairbanks, AK

3 Bedroom

$2,019

$1,209

+40% in Fairbanks, AK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$255,700

$214,200

+16% in Fairbanks, AK

Income

Median Household Income

$72,077

$56,558

+22% in Fairbanks, AK

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$61,810

$49,540

+20% in Fairbanks, AK

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

28.6 yr

37.8 yr

+9.2 yr in Lewiston, ME

Homeownership

40.5%

50.3%

+9.8 pp in Lewiston, ME

Bachelor's+ (25+)

26.5%

21.7%

+4.8 pp in Fairbanks, AK

Avg Commute

14.1 min

20.7 min

+6.6 min in Lewiston, ME

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

726.1

244.5

+66% in Fairbanks, AK

Property Crime

3,504.2

1,616.5

+54% in Fairbanks, AK

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

27.7°F

45.8°F

+18.1°F in Lewiston, ME

Annual Precipitation

10.8 in

51.1 in

+40.3 in in Lewiston, ME

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.21/gal

$3.94/gal

+24% in Fairbanks, AK

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

28.2

29.6

+5% in Lewiston, ME

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$17.35

$31.62

+82% in Lewiston, ME

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.31

+10% in Fairbanks, AK

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.92

+6% in Fairbanks, AK

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.90

+6% in Fairbanks, AK

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 (AK / ME)

None

5.5%

+5.5 pp in ME

Income Tax (top rate)

None

7.15%

+7.2 pp in ME

Fairbanks vs Lewiston — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fairbanks or Lewiston?: Lewiston, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 21% below Fairbanks, AK's $1,350, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fairbanks than in Lewiston?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Fairbanks versus $30,000 in Lewiston.
Which has lower taxes, Fairbanks or Lewiston?: Fairbanks is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no 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).