Is it cheaper to live in Lewiston or Mesa?

Lewiston, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 27% below Mesa, AZ's $1,470, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $30,000 a year in Lewiston versus $52,000 in Mesa.

Which has lower taxes, Lewiston or Mesa?

Lewiston is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Mesa under Arizona's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax).

Lewiston vs Mesa Cost of Living 2026

Lewiston

Maine

$1,070/mo est.

Mesa

Arizona

$1,470/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 $1,470 in Mesa, AZ. Overall, Lewiston, ME is roughly 27% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Mesa, AZ, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $56,558 in Lewiston, ME and $78,779 in Mesa, AZ — about 28% higher in Mesa, AZ. Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Arizona has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax.

Lewiston, ME

Mesa, AZ

Rent

Studio

$559

$1,209

+116% in Mesa, AZ

1 Bedroom

$749

$1,288

+72% in Mesa, AZ

2 Bedroom

$1,047

$1,458

+39% in Mesa, AZ

3 Bedroom

$1,209

$1,819

+50% in Mesa, AZ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$214,200

$364,300

+70% in Mesa, AZ

Income

Median Household Income

$56,558

$78,779

+39% in Mesa, AZ

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,540

$51,380

+4% in Mesa, AZ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

37.8 yr

37.2 yr

+0.6 yr in Lewiston, ME

Homeownership

50.3%

64.4%

+14.1 pp in Mesa, AZ

Bachelor's+ (25+)

21.7%

31.5%

+9.8 pp in Mesa, AZ

Avg Commute

20.7 min

25.0 min

+4.3 min in Mesa, AZ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

244.5

486.2

+99% in Mesa, AZ

Property Crime

1,616.5

1,488

+8% in Lewiston, ME

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

75.1°F

+29.3°F in Mesa, AZ

Annual Precipitation

51.1 in

8.0 in

+43.1 in in Lewiston, ME

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$5.21/gal

+32% in Mesa, AZ

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

29.6

15.2

+49% in Lewiston, ME

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$31.62

$24.74

+22% in Lewiston, ME

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Mesa, AZ

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$2.04

+6% in Mesa, AZ

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$7.36

+7% in Mesa, AZ

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$2.01

+8% in Lewiston, ME

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.70

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (ME / AZ)

5.5%

5.6%

+0.1 pp in AZ

Income Tax (top rate)

7.15%

2.50%

+4.7 pp in ME

Lewiston vs Mesa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Lewiston or Mesa?: Lewiston, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 27% below Mesa, AZ's $1,470, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Lewiston than in Mesa?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $30,000 a year in Lewiston versus $52,000 in Mesa.
Which has lower taxes, Lewiston or Mesa?: Lewiston is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Mesa under Arizona's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% 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).