Living Cost Compare
Fort Wayne

Indiana

$980/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 $980 in Fort Wayne, IN versus $1,070 in Lewiston, ME. Overall, Fort Wayne, IN is roughly 8% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Lewiston, ME, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $60,293 in Fort Wayne, IN and $56,558 in Lewiston, ME — about 6% higher in Fort Wayne, IN. 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.

Fort Wayne, IN
Lewiston, ME

Rent

Studio
$798
$559
+30% in Fort Wayne, IN
1 Bedroom
$782
$749
+4% in Fort Wayne, IN
2 Bedroom
$984
$1,047
+6% in Lewiston, ME
3 Bedroom
$1,100
$1,209
+10% in Lewiston, ME

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$169,700
$214,200
+26% in Lewiston, ME

Income

Median Household Income
$60,293
$56,558
+6% in Fort Wayne, IN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,700
$49,540
+4% in Lewiston, ME

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.0 yr
37.8 yr
+2.8 yr in Lewiston, ME
Homeownership
62.2%
50.3%
+11.9 pp in Fort Wayne, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
28.5%
21.7%
+6.8 pp in Fort Wayne, IN
Avg Commute
21.4 min
20.7 min
+0.7 min in Fort Wayne, IN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
308.9
244.5
+21% in Fort Wayne, IN
Property Crime
2,245.4
1,616.5
+28% in Fort Wayne, IN

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
50.5°F
45.8°F
+4.7°F in Fort Wayne, IN
Annual Precipitation
38.3 in
51.1 in
+12.8 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 Fort Wayne, 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

Fort Wayne vs Lewiston — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Wayne or Lewiston?
Fort Wayne, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $980 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Lewiston, ME's $1,070, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Wayne than in Lewiston?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Fort Wayne versus $30,000 in Lewiston.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Wayne or Lewiston?
Fort Wayne 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).