Is it cheaper to live in Lewiston or Madison?

Lewiston, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 25% below Madison, WI's $1,420, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $30,000 a year in Lewiston versus $49,000 in Madison.

Which has lower taxes, Lewiston or Madison?

Lewiston is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Madison under Wisconsin's (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax).

Lewiston vs Madison Cost of Living 2026

Lewiston

Maine

$1,070/mo est.

Madison

Wisconsin

$1,420/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 $1,420 in Madison, WI. Overall, Lewiston, ME is roughly 25% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Madison, WI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $56,558 in Lewiston, ME and $76,983 in Madison, WI — about 27% higher in Madison, WI. Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax.

Lewiston, ME

Madison, WI

Rent

Studio

$559

$1,018

+82% in Madison, WI

1 Bedroom

$749

$1,219

+63% in Madison, WI

2 Bedroom

$1,047

$1,432

+37% in Madison, WI

3 Bedroom

$1,209

$1,766

+46% in Madison, WI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$214,200

$346,900

+62% in Madison, WI

Income

Median Household Income

$56,558

$76,983

+36% in Madison, WI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,540

$58,080

+17% in Madison, WI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

37.8 yr

31.8 yr

+6.0 yr in Lewiston, ME

Homeownership

50.3%

46.6%

+3.7 pp in Lewiston, ME

Bachelor's+ (25+)

21.7%

59.2%

+37.5 pp in Madison, WI

Avg Commute

20.7 min

19.4 min

+1.3 min in Lewiston, ME

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

244.5

259.5

+6% in Madison, WI

Property Crime

1,616.5

1,884.5

+17% in Madison, WI

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

46.5°F

+0.7°F in Madison, WI

Annual Precipitation

51.1 in

34.5 in

+16.6 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).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

29.6

19.6

+34% in Lewiston, ME

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$31.62

$18.17

+43% in Lewiston, ME

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$1.66

+14% in Lewiston, ME

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$3.63

+66% in Madison, WI

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$6.77

+2% in Lewiston, ME

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$2.10

+4% in Lewiston, ME

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.62

+11% in Lewiston, ME

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (ME / WI)

5.5%

+0.5 pp in ME

Income Tax (top rate)

7.15%

7.65%

+0.5 pp in WI

Lewiston vs Madison — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Lewiston or Madison?: Lewiston, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 25% below Madison, WI's $1,420, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Lewiston than in Madison?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $30,000 a year in Lewiston versus $49,000 in Madison.
Which has lower taxes, Lewiston or Madison?: Lewiston is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Madison under Wisconsin's (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 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).