Living Cost Compare
Lewiston

Maine

$1,070/mo est.

vs
Manchester

New Hampshire

$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 Manchester, NH. Overall, Lewiston, ME is roughly 25% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Manchester, NH, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $56,558 in Lewiston, ME and $77,415 in Manchester, NH — about 27% higher in Manchester, NH. Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax; New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax.

Lewiston, ME
Manchester, NH

Rent

Studio
$559
$880
+57% in Manchester, NH
1 Bedroom
$749
$1,150
+54% in Manchester, NH
2 Bedroom
$1,047
$1,593
+52% in Manchester, NH
3 Bedroom
$1,209
$1,661
+37% in Manchester, NH

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$214,200
$336,300
+57% in Manchester, NH

Income

Median Household Income
$56,558
$77,415
+37% in Manchester, NH
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,540
$56,530
+14% in Manchester, NH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
37.8 yr
37.9 yr
+0.1 yr in Manchester, NH
Homeownership
50.3%
49.3%
+1.0 pp in Lewiston, ME
Bachelor's+ (25+)
21.7%
33.5%
+11.8 pp in Manchester, NH
Avg Commute
20.7 min
23.8 min
+3.1 min in Manchester, NH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
244.5
339.5
+39% in Manchester, NH
Property Crime
1,616.5
1,691.4
+5% in Manchester, NH

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
49.2°F
+3.4°F in Manchester, NH
Annual Precipitation
51.1 in
44.6 in
+6.5 in in Lewiston, ME

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.94/gal
about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
29.6
27.0
+9% in Lewiston, ME
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$31.62
$21.67
+31% in Lewiston, ME

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.92
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.90
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.69
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (ME / NH)
5.5%
None
+5.5 pp in ME
Income Tax (top rate)
7.15%
None
+7.2 pp in ME

Lewiston vs Manchester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Lewiston or Manchester?
Lewiston, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 25% below Manchester, NH's $1,420, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Lewiston than in Manchester?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $30,000 a year in Lewiston versus $46,000 in Manchester.
Which has lower taxes, Lewiston or Manchester?
Lewiston is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Manchester under New Hampshire's (no state income tax and no 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).