Is it cheaper to live in Lewiston or Reno?

Lewiston, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 21% below Reno, NV's $1,350, mainly because of rent.

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

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 Reno.

Which has lower taxes, Lewiston or Reno?

Lewiston is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Reno under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax).

Lewiston vs Reno Cost of Living 2026

Lewiston

Maine

$1,070/mo est.

Reno

Nevada

$1,350/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 $1,350 in Reno, NV. Overall, Lewiston, ME is roughly 21% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Reno, NV, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $56,558 in Lewiston, ME and $78,448 in Reno, NV — about 28% higher in Reno, NV. Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Nevada has no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax.

Lewiston, ME

Reno, NV

Rent

Studio

$559

$964

+72% in Reno, NV

1 Bedroom

$749

$1,206

+61% in Reno, NV

2 Bedroom

$1,047

$1,518

+45% in Reno, NV

3 Bedroom

$1,209

$1,885

+56% in Reno, NV

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$214,200

$498,600

+133% in Reno, NV

Income

Median Household Income

$56,558

$78,448

+39% in Reno, NV

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,540

$49,660

+0% in Reno, NV

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

37.8 yr

37.3 yr

+0.5 yr in Lewiston, ME

Homeownership

50.3%

49.4%

+0.9 pp in Lewiston, ME

Bachelor's+ (25+)

21.7%

35.7%

+14.0 pp in Reno, NV

Avg Commute

20.7 min

20.6 min

+0.1 min in Lewiston, ME

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

244.5

528.9

+116% in Reno, NV

Property Crime

1,616.5

2,489.3

+54% in Reno, NV

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

53.8°F

+8.0°F in Reno, NV

Annual Precipitation

51.1 in

7.4 in

+43.7 in in Lewiston, ME

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$5.21/gal

+32% in Reno, NV

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

29.6

13.1

+56% in Lewiston, ME

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$31.62

$13.83

+56% in Lewiston, ME

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Reno, NV

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$2.04

+6% in Reno, NV

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$7.36

+7% in Reno, NV

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$2.01

+8% in Lewiston, ME

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.70

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (ME / NV)

5.5%

6.85%

+1.3 pp in NV

Income Tax (top rate)

7.15%

None

+7.2 pp in ME

Lewiston vs Reno — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Lewiston or Reno?: Lewiston, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 21% below Reno, NV's $1,350, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Lewiston than in Reno?: 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 Reno.
Which has lower taxes, Lewiston or Reno?: Lewiston is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Reno under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% 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).