Living Cost Compare
Lewiston

Maine

$1,070/mo est.

vs
Seattle

Washington

$2,030/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 $2,030 in Seattle, WA. Overall, Lewiston, ME is roughly 47% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Seattle, WA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $56,558 in Lewiston, ME and $121,984 in Seattle, WA — about 54% higher in Seattle, WA. Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Washington has no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Lewiston, ME
Seattle, WA

Rent

Studio
$559
$1,638
+193% in Seattle, WA
1 Bedroom
$749
$1,858
+148% in Seattle, WA
2 Bedroom
$1,047
$2,359
+125% in Seattle, WA
3 Bedroom
$1,209
$2,918
+141% in Seattle, WA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$214,200
$912,100
+326% in Seattle, WA

Income

Median Household Income
$56,558
$121,984
+116% in Seattle, WA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,540
$72,610
+47% in Seattle, WA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
37.8 yr
35.5 yr
+2.3 yr in Lewiston, ME
Homeownership
50.3%
44.2%
+6.1 pp in Lewiston, ME
Bachelor's+ (25+)
21.7%
67.5%
+45.8 pp in Seattle, WA
Avg Commute
20.7 min
26.6 min
+5.9 min in Seattle, WA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
244.5
788.6
+223% in Seattle, WA
Property Crime
1,616.5
5,108.8
+216% in Seattle, WA

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
53.5°F
+7.7°F in Seattle, WA
Annual Precipitation
51.1 in
37.7 in
+13.4 in in Lewiston, ME

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$5.41/gal
+37% in Seattle, WA

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Seattle.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.75

Adult base one-way fare — — vs King County Metro (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
29.6
14.9
+50% in Lewiston, ME
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$31.62
$21.34
+33% in Lewiston, ME

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.82
+12% in Seattle, WA
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$2.04
+6% in Seattle, WA
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$7.36
+7% in Seattle, WA
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 / WA)
5.5%
6.5%
+1.0 pp in WA
Income Tax (top rate)
7.15%
None
+7.2 pp in ME

Lewiston vs Seattle — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Lewiston or Seattle?
Lewiston, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 47% below Seattle, WA's $2,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Lewiston than in Seattle?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $30,000 a year in Lewiston versus $74,000 in Seattle.
Which has lower taxes, Lewiston or Seattle?
Lewiston is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Seattle under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% 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).