Is it cheaper to live in Lewiston or Providence?

Lewiston, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below Providence, RI's $1,330, mainly because of rent.

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

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 Providence.

Which has lower taxes, Lewiston or Providence?

Lewiston is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Providence under Rhode Island's (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax).

Lewiston vs Providence Cost of Living 2026

Lewiston

Maine

$1,070/mo est.

Providence

Rhode Island

$1,330/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 $1,330 in Providence, RI. Overall, Lewiston, ME is roughly 20% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Providence, RI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $56,558 in Lewiston, ME and $66,772 in Providence, RI — about 15% higher in Providence, RI. Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Rhode Island has a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax.

Lewiston, ME

Providence, RI

Rent

Studio

$559

$1,116

+100% in Providence, RI

1 Bedroom

$749

$1,030

+38% in Providence, RI

2 Bedroom

$1,047

$1,323

+26% in Providence, RI

3 Bedroom

$1,209

$1,627

+35% in Providence, RI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$214,200

$322,800

+51% in Providence, RI

Income

Median Household Income

$56,558

$66,772

+18% in Providence, RI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,540

$53,680

+8% in Providence, RI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

37.8 yr

32.9 yr

+4.9 yr in Lewiston, ME

Homeownership

50.3%

41.2%

+9.1 pp in Lewiston, ME

Bachelor's+ (25+)

21.7%

34.7%

+13.0 pp in Providence, RI

Avg Commute

20.7 min

25.0 min

+4.3 min in Providence, RI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

244.5

282.4

+16% in Providence, RI

Property Crime

1,616.5

1,665.6

+3% in Providence, RI

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

51.6°F

+5.8°F in Providence, RI

Annual Precipitation

51.1 in

47.2 in

+3.9 in in Lewiston, ME

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

29.6

29.2

+1% in Lewiston, ME

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$31.62

$25.75

+19% in Lewiston, ME

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.92

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (ME / RI)

5.5%

+1.5 pp in RI

Income Tax (top rate)

7.15%

5.99%

+1.2 pp in ME

Lewiston vs Providence — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Lewiston or Providence?: Lewiston, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below Providence, RI's $1,330, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Lewiston than in Providence?: 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 Providence.
Which has lower taxes, Lewiston or Providence?: Lewiston is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Providence under Rhode Island's (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% 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).