Is it cheaper to live in Jackson or Lewiston?

Jackson, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,000 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below Lewiston, ME's $1,070, mainly because of electricity costs.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Jackson versus $30,000 in Lewiston.

Which has lower taxes, Jackson or Lewiston?

Jackson is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% 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).

Jackson vs Lewiston Cost of Living 2026

Jackson

Mississippi

$1,000/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 $1,000 in Jackson, MS versus $1,070 in Lewiston, ME. Overall, Jackson, MS is roughly 7% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Lewiston, ME, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $43,238 in Jackson, MS and $56,558 in Lewiston, ME — about 24% higher in Lewiston, ME. Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax; Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Jackson, MS

Lewiston, ME

Rent

Studio

$1,085

$559

+48% in Jackson, MS

1 Bedroom

$816

$749

+8% in Jackson, MS

2 Bedroom

$991

$1,047

+6% in Lewiston, ME

3 Bedroom

$1,121

$1,209

+8% in Lewiston, ME

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$108,200

$214,200

+98% in Lewiston, ME

Income

Median Household Income

$43,238

$56,558

+31% in Lewiston, ME

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$42,850

$49,540

+16% in Lewiston, ME

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.7 yr

37.8 yr

+3.1 yr in Lewiston, ME

Homeownership

48.6%

50.3%

+1.7 pp in Lewiston, ME

Bachelor's+ (25+)

28.6%

21.7%

+6.9 pp in Jackson, MS

Avg Commute

20.2 min

20.7 min

+0.5 min in Lewiston, ME

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

—

244.5

Property Crime

—

1,616.5

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

65.3°F

45.8°F

+19.5°F in Jackson, MS

Annual Precipitation

54.3 in

51.1 in

+3.2 in in Jackson, MS

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)

14.9

29.6

+99% in Lewiston, ME

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$29.04

$31.62

+9% 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 Jackson, MS

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 (MS / ME)

5.5%

+1.5 pp in MS

Income Tax (top rate)

4.00%

7.15%

+3.2 pp in ME

Jackson vs Lewiston — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Jackson or Lewiston?: Jackson, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,000 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below Lewiston, ME's $1,070, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Jackson than in Lewiston?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Jackson versus $30,000 in Lewiston.
Which has lower taxes, Jackson or Lewiston?: Jackson is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% 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).