Living Cost Compare
Huntsville

Alabama

$1,090/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 $1,090 in Huntsville, AL versus $1,070 in Lewiston, ME. Overall, Lewiston, ME is roughly 2% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Huntsville, AL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $70,778 in Huntsville, AL and $56,558 in Lewiston, ME — about 20% higher in Huntsville, AL. Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax; Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Huntsville, AL
Lewiston, ME

Rent

Studio
$815
$559
+31% in Huntsville, AL
1 Bedroom
$900
$749
+17% in Huntsville, AL
2 Bedroom
$1,080
$1,047
+3% in Huntsville, AL
3 Bedroom
$1,251
$1,209
+3% in Huntsville, AL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$263,100
$214,200
+19% in Huntsville, AL

Income

Median Household Income
$70,778
$56,558
+20% in Huntsville, AL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,740
$49,540
+4% in Huntsville, AL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.4 yr
37.8 yr
+1.4 yr in Lewiston, ME
Homeownership
58.1%
50.3%
+7.8 pp in Huntsville, AL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
46.2%
21.7%
+24.5 pp in Huntsville, AL
Avg Commute
19.3 min
20.7 min
+1.4 min in Lewiston, ME

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
483.2
244.5
+49% in Huntsville, AL
Property Crime
2,395.7
1,616.5
+33% in Huntsville, AL

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
62.1°F
45.8°F
+16.3°F in Huntsville, AL
Annual Precipitation
54.3 in
51.1 in
+3.2 in in Huntsville, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.94/gal
+9% in Lewiston, ME

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.4
29.6
+80% in Lewiston, ME
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.06
$31.62
+31% 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 Huntsville, AL
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 (AL / ME)
4%
5.5%
+1.5 pp in ME
Income Tax (top rate)
5.00%
7.15%
+2.2 pp in ME

Huntsville vs Lewiston — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Huntsville or Lewiston?
Lewiston, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Huntsville, AL's $1,090, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Huntsville than in Lewiston?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Huntsville versus $30,000 in Lewiston.
Which has lower taxes, Huntsville or Lewiston?
Huntsville is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% 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).