Living Cost Compare
Lewiston

Maine

$1,070/mo est.

vs
New Orleans

Louisiana

$1,170/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 $1,170 in New Orleans, LA. Overall, Lewiston, ME is roughly 9% cheaper to live in day-to-day than New Orleans, LA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $56,558 in Lewiston, ME and $55,339 in New Orleans, LA — about 2% higher in Lewiston, ME. Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax.

Lewiston, ME
New Orleans, LA

Rent

Studio
$559
$953
+70% in New Orleans, LA
1 Bedroom
$749
$1,019
+36% in New Orleans, LA
2 Bedroom
$1,047
$1,287
+23% in New Orleans, LA
3 Bedroom
$1,209
$1,392
+15% in New Orleans, LA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$214,200
$296,400
+38% in New Orleans, LA

Income

Median Household Income
$56,558
$55,339
+2% in Lewiston, ME
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,540
$47,290
+5% in Lewiston, ME

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
37.8 yr
38.4 yr
+0.6 yr in New Orleans, LA
Homeownership
50.3%
50.5%
+0.2 pp in New Orleans, LA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
21.7%
42.0%
+20.3 pp in New Orleans, LA
Avg Commute
20.7 min
22.7 min
+2.0 min in New Orleans, LA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
244.5
1,361.1
+457% in New Orleans, LA
Property Crime
1,616.5
5,089.6
+215% in New Orleans, LA

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
70.6°F
+24.8°F in New Orleans, LA
Annual Precipitation
51.1 in
62.3 in
+11.2 in in New Orleans, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.62/gal
+8% in Lewiston, ME

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.25

Adult base one-way fare — — vs New Orleans RTA (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
29.6
13.5
+54% in Lewiston, ME
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$31.62
$16.62
+47% in Lewiston, ME

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Lewiston, ME
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.75
+9% in Lewiston, ME
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in New Orleans, LA
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.45
+6% in Lewiston, ME
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$1.90
+13% in Lewiston, ME
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.62
+11% in Lewiston, ME

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (ME / LA)
5.5%
5%
+0.5 pp in ME
Income Tax (top rate)
7.15%
3.00%
+4.2 pp in ME

Lewiston vs New Orleans — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Lewiston or New Orleans?
Lewiston, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below New Orleans, LA's $1,170, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Lewiston than in New Orleans?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $30,000 a year in Lewiston versus $41,000 in New Orleans.
Which has lower taxes, Lewiston or New Orleans?
Lewiston is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); New Orleans under Louisiana's (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% 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).