Is it cheaper to live in Frederick or Lewiston?

Lewiston, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 35% below Frederick, MD's $1,650, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Frederick versus $30,000 in Lewiston.

Which has lower taxes, Frederick or Lewiston?

Frederick is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% 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).

Frederick vs Lewiston Cost of Living 2026

Frederick

Maryland

$1,650/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 $1,650 in Frederick, MD versus $1,070 in Lewiston, ME. Overall, Lewiston, ME is roughly 35% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Frederick, MD, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $95,150 in Frederick, MD and $56,558 in Lewiston, ME — about 41% higher in Frederick, MD. Maryland has a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Frederick, MD

Lewiston, ME

Rent

Studio

$1,658

$559

+66% in Frederick, MD

1 Bedroom

$1,418

$749

+47% in Frederick, MD

2 Bedroom

$1,661

$1,047

+37% in Frederick, MD

3 Bedroom

$1,863

$1,209

+35% in Frederick, MD

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$365,200

$214,200

+41% in Frederick, MD

Income

Median Household Income

$95,150

$56,558

+41% in Frederick, MD

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$71,060

$49,540

+30% in Frederick, MD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

37.1 yr

37.8 yr

+0.7 yr in Lewiston, ME

Homeownership

59.2%

50.3%

+8.9 pp in Frederick, MD

Bachelor's+ (25+)

41.8%

21.7%

+20.1 pp in Frederick, MD

Avg Commute

30.1 min

20.7 min

+9.4 min in Frederick, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

406

244.5

+40% in Frederick, MD

Property Crime

1,696.3

1,616.5

+5% in Frederick, MD

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

52.1°F

45.8°F

+6.3°F in Frederick, MD

Annual Precipitation

—

51.1 in

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

21.8

29.6

+35% in Lewiston, ME

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$22.57

$31.62

+40% in Lewiston, ME

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Lewiston, ME

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.92

+10% in Lewiston, ME

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Frederick, MD

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.90

+7% in Lewiston, ME

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.19

+15% in Lewiston, ME

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Lewiston, ME

Average prices — South vs Northeast (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MD / ME)

5.5%

+0.5 pp in MD

Income Tax (top rate)

6.50%

7.15%

+0.7 pp in ME

Frederick vs Lewiston — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Frederick or Lewiston?: Lewiston, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 35% below Frederick, MD's $1,650, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Frederick than in Lewiston?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Frederick versus $30,000 in Lewiston.
Which has lower taxes, Frederick or Lewiston?: Frederick is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% 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).