Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas
A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,070 in Lewiston, ME versus $1,510 in Raleigh, NC. Overall, Lewiston, ME is roughly 29% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Raleigh, NC, driven mainly by rent.
Median household income is $56,558 in Lewiston, ME and $82,424 in Raleigh, NC — about 31% higher in Raleigh, NC. Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax; North Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax.
Rent
Buying a Home
Income
People & Lifestyle
Crime (per 100k/yr)
FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.
Climate
Gas
Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs East Coast (PADD 1).
Public Transit
Adult base one-way fare — — vs GoRaleigh (2026).
Utilities
Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.
Groceries
Average prices — Northeast vs South (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.
State Taxes
Lewiston vs Raleigh — FAQ
- Is it cheaper to live in Lewiston or Raleigh?
- Lewiston, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 29% below Raleigh, NC's $1,510, mainly because of rent.
- How much more do you need to earn to live in Lewiston than in Raleigh?
- To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $30,000 a year in Lewiston versus $53,000 in Raleigh.
- Which has lower taxes, Lewiston or Raleigh?
- Lewiston is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Raleigh under North Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% 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).