Living Cost Compare
Lewiston

Maine

$1,070/mo est.

vs
St. Louis

Missouri

$1,060/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 $1,060 in St. Louis, MO. Overall, St. Louis, MO is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Lewiston, ME, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $56,558 in Lewiston, ME and $55,279 in St. Louis, MO — about 2% higher in Lewiston, ME. Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax.

Lewiston, ME
St. Louis, MO

Rent

Studio
$559
$864
+55% in St. Louis, MO
1 Bedroom
$749
$866
+16% in St. Louis, MO
2 Bedroom
$1,047
$1,109
+6% in St. Louis, MO
3 Bedroom
$1,209
$1,135
+6% in Lewiston, ME

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$214,200
$185,100
+14% in Lewiston, ME

Income

Median Household Income
$56,558
$55,279
+2% in Lewiston, ME
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,540
$49,990
+1% in St. Louis, MO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
37.8 yr
36.6 yr
+1.2 yr in Lewiston, ME
Homeownership
50.3%
45.4%
+4.9 pp in Lewiston, ME
Bachelor's+ (25+)
21.7%
40.2%
+18.5 pp in St. Louis, MO
Avg Commute
20.7 min
22.2 min
+1.5 min in St. Louis, MO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
244.5
1,372.9
+462% in St. Louis, MO
Property Crime
1,616.5
5,794.9
+258% in St. Louis, MO

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
55.7°F
+9.9°F in St. Louis, MO
Annual Precipitation
51.1 in
40.9 in
+10.2 in in Lewiston, ME

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.85/gal
+2% in Lewiston, ME

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
29.6
16.2
+45% in Lewiston, ME
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$31.62
$28.78
+9% 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
$1.66
+14% in Lewiston, ME
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$3.63
+66% in St. Louis, MO
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.77
+2% in Lewiston, ME
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$2.10
+4% in Lewiston, ME
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.62
+11% in Lewiston, ME

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (ME / MO)
5.5%
4.225%
+1.3 pp in ME
Income Tax (top rate)
7.15%
4.70%
+2.5 pp in ME

Lewiston vs St. Louis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Lewiston or St. Louis?
St. Louis, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,060 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Lewiston, ME's $1,070, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Lewiston than in St. Louis?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $30,000 a year in Lewiston versus $35,000 in St. Louis.
Which has lower taxes, Lewiston or St. Louis?
Lewiston is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); St. Louis under Missouri's (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% 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).