Living Cost Compare
Lewiston

Maine

$1,070/mo est.

vs
Naperville

Illinois

$1,800/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 $1,800 in Naperville, IL. Overall, Lewiston, ME is roughly 41% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Naperville, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $56,558 in Lewiston, ME and $150,937 in Naperville, IL — about 63% higher in Naperville, IL. Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Lewiston, ME
Naperville, IL

Rent

Studio
$559
$1,713
+206% in Naperville, IL
1 Bedroom
$749
$1,594
+113% in Naperville, IL
2 Bedroom
$1,047
$1,889
+80% in Naperville, IL
3 Bedroom
$1,209
$2,446
+102% in Naperville, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$214,200
$509,900
+138% in Naperville, IL

Income

Median Household Income
$56,558
$150,937
+167% in Naperville, IL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,540
$54,720
+10% in Naperville, IL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
37.8 yr
40.1 yr
+2.3 yr in Naperville, IL
Homeownership
50.3%
74.3%
+24.0 pp in Naperville, IL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
21.7%
71.7%
+50.0 pp in Naperville, IL
Avg Commute
20.7 min
31.4 min
+10.7 min in Naperville, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
244.5
85.7
+65% in Lewiston, ME
Property Crime
1,616.5
892.2
+45% 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
49.9°F
+4.1°F in Naperville, IL
Annual Precipitation
51.1 in
36.9 in
+14.2 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).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
29.6
19.9
+33% in Lewiston, ME
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$31.62
$19.71
+38% 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
$1.66
+14% in Lewiston, ME
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$3.63
+66% in Naperville, IL
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 / IL)
5.5%
6.25%
+0.8 pp in IL
Income Tax (top rate)
7.15%
4.95%
+2.2 pp in ME

Lewiston vs Naperville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Lewiston or Naperville?
Lewiston, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 41% below Naperville, IL's $1,800, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Lewiston than in Naperville?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $30,000 a year in Lewiston versus $64,000 in Naperville.
Which has lower taxes, Lewiston or Naperville?
Lewiston is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Naperville under Illinois's (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% 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).