Is it cheaper to live in Lewiston or Tulsa?

Tulsa, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Lewiston, ME's $1,070, mainly because of electricity costs.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $30,000 a year in Lewiston versus $34,000 in Tulsa.

Which has lower taxes, Lewiston or Tulsa?

Lewiston is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Tulsa under Oklahoma's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax).

Lewiston vs Tulsa Cost of Living 2026

Lewiston

Maine

$1,070/mo est.

Tulsa

Oklahoma

$1,030/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 $1,030 in Tulsa, OK. Overall, Tulsa, OK is roughly 4% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Lewiston, ME, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $56,558 in Lewiston, ME and $58,407 in Tulsa, OK — about 3% higher in Tulsa, OK. Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax.

Lewiston, ME

Tulsa, OK

Rent

Studio

$559

$786

+41% in Tulsa, OK

1 Bedroom

$749

$847

+13% in Tulsa, OK

2 Bedroom

$1,047

$1,045

+0% in Lewiston, ME

3 Bedroom

$1,209

$1,265

+5% in Tulsa, OK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$214,200

$189,600

+11% in Lewiston, ME

Income

Median Household Income

$56,558

$58,407

+3% in Tulsa, OK

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,540

$46,670

+6% in Lewiston, ME

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

37.8 yr

35.5 yr

+2.3 yr in Lewiston, ME

Homeownership

50.3%

52.0%

+1.7 pp in Tulsa, OK

Bachelor's+ (25+)

21.7%

33.3%

+11.6 pp in Tulsa, OK

Avg Commute

20.7 min

18.7 min

+2.0 min in Lewiston, ME

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

244.5

948.9

+288% in Tulsa, OK

Property Crime

1,616.5

3,664.6

+127% in Tulsa, OK

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

60.1°F

+14.3°F in Tulsa, OK

Annual Precipitation

51.1 in

43.7 in

+7.4 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

14.3

+52% in Lewiston, ME

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$31.62

$31.25

+1% in Lewiston, ME

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.00

+7% in Lewiston, ME

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$1.75

+9% in Lewiston, ME

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Tulsa, OK

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$6.45

+6% in Lewiston, ME

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$1.90

+13% in Lewiston, ME

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.62

+11% in Lewiston, ME

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (ME / OK)

5.5%

4.5%

+1.0 pp in ME

Income Tax (top rate)

7.15%

4.50%

+2.7 pp in ME

Lewiston vs Tulsa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Lewiston or Tulsa?: Tulsa, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Lewiston, ME's $1,070, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Lewiston than in Tulsa?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $30,000 a year in Lewiston versus $34,000 in Tulsa.
Which has lower taxes, Lewiston or Tulsa?: Lewiston is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Tulsa under Oklahoma's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% 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).