Living Cost Compare
Lewiston

Maine

$1,070/mo est.

vs
Salt Lake City

Utah

$1,300/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 $1,300 in Salt Lake City, UT. Overall, Lewiston, ME is roughly 18% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Salt Lake City, UT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $56,558 in Lewiston, ME and $74,925 in Salt Lake City, UT — about 25% higher in Salt Lake City, UT. Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Utah has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax.

Lewiston, ME
Salt Lake City, UT

Rent

Studio
$559
$997
+78% in Salt Lake City, UT
1 Bedroom
$749
$1,166
+56% in Salt Lake City, UT
2 Bedroom
$1,047
$1,461
+40% in Salt Lake City, UT
3 Bedroom
$1,209
$1,993
+65% in Salt Lake City, UT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$214,200
$495,700
+131% in Salt Lake City, UT

Income

Median Household Income
$56,558
$74,925
+32% in Salt Lake City, UT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,540
$55,240
+12% in Salt Lake City, UT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
37.8 yr
33.0 yr
+4.8 yr in Lewiston, ME
Homeownership
50.3%
46.8%
+3.5 pp in Lewiston, ME
Bachelor's+ (25+)
21.7%
50.9%
+29.2 pp in Salt Lake City, UT
Avg Commute
20.7 min
19.6 min
+1.1 min in Lewiston, ME

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
244.5
878.8
+259% in Salt Lake City, UT
Property Crime
1,616.5
5,257.3
+225% in Salt Lake City, UT

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
52.8°F
+7.0°F in Salt Lake City, UT
Annual Precipitation
51.1 in
16.1 in
+35.0 in in Lewiston, ME

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$4.27/gal
+8% in Salt Lake City, UT

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
29.6
13.4
+55% in Lewiston, ME
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$31.62
$11.84
+63% in Lewiston, ME

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.82
+12% in Salt Lake City, UT
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$2.04
+6% in Salt Lake City, UT
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$7.36
+7% in Salt Lake City, UT
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 / UT)
5.5%
6.1%
+0.6 pp in UT
Income Tax (top rate)
7.15%
4.50%
+2.7 pp in ME

Lewiston vs Salt Lake City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Lewiston or Salt Lake City?
Lewiston, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below Salt Lake City, UT's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Lewiston than in Salt Lake City?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $30,000 a year in Lewiston versus $47,000 in Salt Lake City.
Which has lower taxes, Lewiston or Salt Lake City?
Lewiston is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Salt Lake City under Utah's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% 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).