Is it cheaper to live in Houston or Lewiston?

Lewiston, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 21% below Houston, TX's $1,360, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Houston versus $30,000 in Lewiston.

Which has lower taxes, Houston or Lewiston?

Houston is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Lewiston under Maine's (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax).

Houston vs Lewiston Cost of Living 2026

Houston

Texas

$1,360/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 $1,360 in Houston, TX versus $1,070 in Lewiston, ME. Overall, Lewiston, ME is roughly 21% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Houston, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $62,894 in Houston, TX and $56,558 in Lewiston, ME — about 10% higher in Houston, TX. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Houston, TX

Lewiston, ME

Rent

Studio

$1,142

$559

+51% in Houston, TX

1 Bedroom

$1,156

$749

+35% in Houston, TX

2 Bedroom

$1,375

$1,047

+24% in Houston, TX

3 Bedroom

$1,664

$1,209

+27% in Houston, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$253,400

$214,200

+15% in Houston, TX

Income

Median Household Income

$62,894

$56,558

+10% in Houston, TX

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,410

$49,540

+0% in Lewiston, ME

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.3 yr

37.8 yr

+3.5 yr in Lewiston, ME

Homeownership

42.0%

50.3%

+8.3 pp in Lewiston, ME

Bachelor's+ (25+)

36.0%

21.7%

+14.3 pp in Houston, TX

Avg Commute

27.3 min

20.7 min

+6.6 min in Houston, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,153.8

244.5

+79% in Houston, TX

Property Crime

4,324.9

1,616.5

+63% in Houston, TX

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

70.3°F

45.8°F

+24.5°F in Houston, TX

Annual Precipitation

54.6 in

51.1 in

+3.5 in in Houston, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.52/gal

$3.94/gal

+12% in Lewiston, ME

Area: Houston vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$1.25

—

Adult base one-way fare — Houston METRO vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.9

29.6

+86% in Lewiston, ME

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$31.89

$31.62

+1% in Houston, TX

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 Houston, TX

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 (TX / ME)

6.25%

5.5%

+0.8 pp in TX

Income Tax (top rate)

None

7.15%

+7.2 pp in ME

Houston vs Lewiston — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Houston or Lewiston?: Lewiston, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 21% below Houston, TX's $1,360, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Houston than in Lewiston?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Houston versus $30,000 in Lewiston.
Which has lower taxes, Houston or Lewiston?: Houston is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% 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).