Living Cost Compare
Lewiston

Maine

$1,070/mo est.

vs
Philadelphia

Pennsylvania

$1,430/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 $1,430 in Philadelphia, PA. Overall, Lewiston, ME is roughly 25% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Philadelphia, PA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $56,558 in Lewiston, ME and $60,698 in Philadelphia, PA — about 7% higher in Philadelphia, PA. Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax.

Lewiston, ME
Philadelphia, PA

Rent

Studio
$559
$1,126
+101% in Philadelphia, PA
1 Bedroom
$749
$1,189
+59% in Philadelphia, PA
2 Bedroom
$1,047
$1,394
+33% in Philadelphia, PA
3 Bedroom
$1,209
$1,406
+16% in Philadelphia, PA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$214,200
$232,400
+8% in Philadelphia, PA

Income

Median Household Income
$56,558
$60,698
+7% in Philadelphia, PA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,540
$54,310
+10% in Philadelphia, PA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
37.8 yr
35.1 yr
+2.7 yr in Lewiston, ME
Homeownership
50.3%
52.3%
+2.0 pp in Philadelphia, PA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
21.7%
34.6%
+12.9 pp in Philadelphia, PA
Avg Commute
20.7 min
32.0 min
+11.3 min in Philadelphia, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
244.5
917.1
+275% in Philadelphia, PA
Property Crime
1,616.5
4,615.3
+186% in Philadelphia, PA

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
57.1°F
+11.3°F in Philadelphia, PA
Annual Precipitation
51.1 in
48.5 in
+2.6 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).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.50

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
29.6
21.7
+27% in Lewiston, ME
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$31.62
$26.08
+18% 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 / PA)
5.5%
6%
+0.5 pp in PA
Income Tax (top rate)
7.15%
3.07%
+4.1 pp in ME

Lewiston vs Philadelphia — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Lewiston or Philadelphia?
Lewiston, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 25% below Philadelphia, PA's $1,430, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Lewiston than in Philadelphia?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $30,000 a year in Lewiston versus $48,000 in Philadelphia.
Which has lower taxes, Lewiston or Philadelphia?
Lewiston is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Philadelphia under Pennsylvania's (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 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).