Living Cost Compare
Lewiston

Maine

$1,070/mo est.

vs
Washington

District of Columbia

$2,150/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 $2,150 in Washington, DC. Overall, Lewiston, ME is roughly 50% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Washington, DC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $56,558 in Lewiston, ME and $106,287 in Washington, DC — about 47% higher in Washington, DC. Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax; District of Columbia has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Lewiston, ME
Washington, DC

Rent

Studio
$559
$1,763
+215% in Washington, DC
1 Bedroom
$749
$1,885
+152% in Washington, DC
2 Bedroom
$1,047
$1,949
+86% in Washington, DC
3 Bedroom
$1,209
$2,249
+86% in Washington, DC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$214,200
$724,600
+238% in Washington, DC

Income

Median Household Income
$56,558
$106,287
+88% in Washington, DC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,540
$71,060
+43% in Washington, DC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
37.8 yr
34.9 yr
+2.9 yr in Lewiston, ME
Homeownership
50.3%
41.1%
+9.2 pp in Lewiston, ME
Bachelor's+ (25+)
21.7%
63.6%
+41.9 pp in Washington, DC
Avg Commute
20.7 min
30.3 min
+9.6 min in Washington, DC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
244.5
936.3
+283% in Washington, DC
Property Crime
1,616.5
3,627.9
+124% in Washington, DC

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
58.2°F
+12.4°F in Washington, DC
Annual Precipitation
51.1 in
39.7 in
+11.4 in in Lewiston, ME

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.94/gal
about equal

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

Adult base one-way fare — — vs WMATA (Metrobus) (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
29.6
24.4
+18% in Lewiston, ME
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$31.62
$27.28
+14% 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 Washington, DC
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 / DC)
5.5%
6%
+0.5 pp in DC
Income Tax (top rate)
7.15%
10.75%
+3.6 pp in DC

Lewiston vs Washington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Lewiston or Washington?
Lewiston, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 50% below Washington, DC's $2,150, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Lewiston than in Washington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $30,000 a year in Lewiston versus $75,000 in Washington.
Which has lower taxes, Lewiston or Washington?
Lewiston is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Washington under District of Columbia's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% 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).