Living Cost Compare
Lewiston

Maine

$1,070/mo est.

vs
Louisville

Kentucky

$1,070/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,070 in Lewiston, ME versus $1,070 in Louisville, KY. The two are close overall, within a few percent of each other.

Median household income is $56,558 in Lewiston, ME and $64,731 in Louisville, KY — about 13% higher in Louisville, KY. Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Kentucky has a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$559
$786
+41% in Louisville, KY
1 Bedroom
$749
$877
+17% in Louisville, KY
2 Bedroom
$1,047
$1,096
+5% in Louisville, KY
3 Bedroom
$1,209
$1,299
+7% in Louisville, KY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$214,200
$221,500
+3% in Louisville, KY

Income

Median Household Income
$56,558
$64,731
+14% in Louisville, KY
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,540
$48,370
+2% in Lewiston, ME

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
37.8 yr
37.7 yr
+0.1 yr in Lewiston, ME
Homeownership
50.3%
60.6%
+10.3 pp in Louisville, KY
Bachelor's+ (25+)
21.7%
33.4%
+11.7 pp in Louisville, KY
Avg Commute
20.7 min
22.7 min
+2.0 min in Louisville, KY

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
244.5
763.4
+212% in Louisville, KY
Property Crime
1,616.5
3,536.6
+119% in Louisville, KY

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
45.8°F
58.2°F
+12.4°F in Louisville, KY
Annual Precipitation
51.1 in
44.9 in
+6.2 in in Lewiston, ME

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.85/gal
+2% in Lewiston, ME

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
29.6
14.3
+52% in Lewiston, ME
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$31.62
$33.20
+5% in Louisville, KY

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Lewiston, ME
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.75
+9% in Lewiston, ME
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Louisville, KY
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.45
+6% in Lewiston, ME
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$1.90
+13% in Lewiston, ME
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.62
+11% in Lewiston, ME

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (ME / KY)
5.5%
6%
+0.5 pp in KY
Income Tax (top rate)
7.15%
3.50%
+3.7 pp in ME

Lewiston vs Louisville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Lewiston or Louisville?
They're close. Lewiston, ME runs about $1,070 a month and Louisville, KY about $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) — within a few percent of each other.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Lewiston than in Louisville?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $30,000 a year in Lewiston versus $35,000 in Louisville.
Which has lower taxes, Lewiston or Louisville?
Lewiston is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Louisville under Kentucky's (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% 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).