Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas
A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,070 in Lewiston, ME versus $950 in Wichita, KS. Overall, Wichita, KS is roughly 11% 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 $63,072 in Wichita, KS — about 10% higher in Wichita, KS. Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Kansas has a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax.
Rent
Buying a Home
Income
People & Lifestyle
Crime (per 100k/yr)
FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.
Climate
Gas
Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Midwest (PADD 2).
Utilities
Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.
Groceries
Average prices — Northeast vs Midwest (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.
State Taxes
Lewiston vs Wichita — FAQ
- Is it cheaper to live in Lewiston or Wichita?
- Wichita, KS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% 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 Wichita?
- To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $30,000 a year in Lewiston versus $30,000 in Wichita.
- Which has lower taxes, Lewiston or Wichita?
- Lewiston is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Wichita under Kansas's (a top state income tax rate of 5.58% 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).