Is it cheaper to live in Lewiston or Missoula?

Lewiston, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Missoula, MT's $1,100, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $30,000 a year in Lewiston versus $38,000 in Missoula.

Which has lower taxes, Lewiston or Missoula?

Lewiston is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Missoula under Montana's (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax).

Lewiston vs Missoula Cost of Living 2026

Lewiston

Maine

$1,070/mo est.

Missoula

Montana

$1,100/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 $1,100 in Missoula, MT. Overall, Lewiston, ME is roughly 3% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Missoula, MT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $56,558 in Lewiston, ME and $65,329 in Missoula, MT — about 13% higher in Missoula, MT. Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax.

Lewiston, ME

Missoula, MT

Rent

Studio

$559

$755

+35% in Missoula, MT

1 Bedroom

$749

$953

+27% in Missoula, MT

2 Bedroom

$1,047

$1,176

+12% in Missoula, MT

3 Bedroom

$1,209

$1,676

+39% in Missoula, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$214,200

$427,400

+100% in Missoula, MT

Income

Median Household Income

$56,558

$65,329

+16% in Missoula, MT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,540

$47,830

+3% in Lewiston, ME

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

37.8 yr

34.3 yr

+3.5 yr in Lewiston, ME

Homeownership

50.3%

47.8%

+2.5 pp in Lewiston, ME

Bachelor's+ (25+)

21.7%

51.7%

+30.0 pp in Missoula, MT

Avg Commute

20.7 min

16.6 min

+4.1 min in Lewiston, ME

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

244.5

601.9

+146% in Missoula, MT

Property Crime

1,616.5

3,685.2

+128% in Missoula, MT

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

45.9°F

+0.1°F in Missoula, MT

Annual Precipitation

51.1 in

14.1 in

+37.0 in in Lewiston, ME

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$4.27/gal

+8% in Missoula, MT

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

29.6

15.1

+49% in Lewiston, ME

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$31.62

$10.12

+68% in Lewiston, ME

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Missoula, MT

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$2.04

+6% in Missoula, MT

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$7.36

+7% in Missoula, MT

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 / MT)

5.5%

None

+5.5 pp in ME

Income Tax (top rate)

7.15%

5.65%

+1.5 pp in ME

Lewiston vs Missoula — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Lewiston or Missoula?: Lewiston, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Missoula, MT's $1,100, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Lewiston than in Missoula?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $30,000 a year in Lewiston versus $38,000 in Missoula.
Which has lower taxes, Lewiston or Missoula?: Lewiston is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Missoula under Montana's (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% 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).