Living Cost Compare
Lewiston

Maine

$1,070/mo est.

vs
Wilmington

Delaware

$1,250/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 $1,250 in Wilmington, DE. Overall, Lewiston, ME is roughly 14% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Wilmington, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $56,558 in Lewiston, ME and $55,269 in Wilmington, DE — about 2% higher in Lewiston, ME. Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Lewiston, ME
Wilmington, DE

Rent

Studio
$559
$1,103
+97% in Wilmington, DE
1 Bedroom
$749
$1,024
+37% in Wilmington, DE
2 Bedroom
$1,047
$1,213
+16% in Wilmington, DE
3 Bedroom
$1,209
$1,394
+15% in Wilmington, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$214,200
$224,500
+5% in Wilmington, DE

Income

Median Household Income
$56,558
$55,269
+2% in Lewiston, ME
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,540
$54,310
+10% in Wilmington, DE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
37.8 yr
37.0 yr
+0.8 yr in Lewiston, ME
Homeownership
50.3%
46.0%
+4.3 pp in Lewiston, ME
Bachelor's+ (25+)
21.7%
33.1%
+11.4 pp in Wilmington, DE
Avg Commute
20.7 min
23.0 min
+2.3 min in Wilmington, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
244.5
1,138.2
+366% in Wilmington, DE
Property Crime
1,616.5
3,182.4
+97% in Wilmington, DE

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
54.9°F
+9.1°F in Wilmington, DE
Annual Precipitation
51.1 in
43.1 in
+8.0 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).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
29.6
19.3
+35% in Lewiston, ME
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$31.62
$29.73
+6% 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 Wilmington, DE
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 / DE)
5.5%
None
+5.5 pp in ME
Income Tax (top rate)
7.15%
6.60%
+0.6 pp in ME

Lewiston vs Wilmington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Lewiston or Wilmington?
Lewiston, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below Wilmington, DE's $1,250, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Lewiston than in Wilmington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $30,000 a year in Lewiston versus $41,000 in Wilmington.
Which has lower taxes, Lewiston or Wilmington?
Lewiston is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Wilmington under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no 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).