Cost of Living in Lewiston, ME
Lewiston-Auburn, ME — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Lewiston, ME to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Lewiston, ME?
With a price level of 94.7 (U.S. average = 100), Lewiston, ME is cheaper than average. In detail, housing costs are 31% below average; everyday goods are 3% below average; utilities run 34% above average; other services such as healthcare and dining run 3% above average. The biggest difference from the national average is in utilities.
Prices in Lewiston, ME vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 94.7 | −5.3% |
| Housing | 69.0 | −31.0% |
| Goods | 97.2 | −2.8% |
| Utilities | 134.4 | +34.4% |
| Other services | 103.2 | +3.2% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Lewiston, ME
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,140 | $45,600/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $1,218 | $48,720/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,586 | $63,440/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,050 | $82,000/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,305 | $92,200/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Lewiston, ME
To keep the same standard of living as in an average-priced U.S. city, you would need to earn roughly:
| Salary in an average U.S. city | Equivalent in Lewiston, ME | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $37,900 | $31,226 |
| $60,000 | $56,800 | $45,166 |
| $80,000 | $75,800 | $58,220 |
| $100,000 | $94,700 | $70,176 |
| $150,000 | $142,100 | $99,727 |
Scaled by the BEA price level (pre-tax). Take-home: single filer, Maine 2026 taxes. For a tax-aware comparison with a specific city, use the calculator above.
A monthly budget on the median wage
A single worker earning Lewiston, ME's median wage of $49,540 takes home about $3,319 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $1,218, which is 37% of take-home pay — above the 30% guideline that financial planners suggest. That leaves about $2,101 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Lewiston, ME
- Federal income tax$3,765
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,071
- Medicare (1.45%)$718
- Maine income tax$2,162
- Take-home pay$39,823
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.75% state
Pay and living costs in Maine cities
Half of Maine’s 640,610 workers earn less than $51,430 a year and half earn more; the middle 50% earn $40,120–$76,230 (BLS, May 2025). Prices vary a lot within the state: Portland, ME stretches a paycheck furthest, while Bangor, ME is the costliest.
| Metro area | Median pay | Price level | 1-BR rent | Rent share | Left after rent / mo | Buying power* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland, ME | $56,960 | 101.9 | $1,548 | 41% | $2,226 | $44,458 |
| Bangor, ME | $47,960 | 96.5 | $1,218 | 38% | $2,004 | $40,059 |
| Lewiston, ME | $49,540 | 94.7 | $1,218 | 37% | $2,101 | $42,036 |
*Yearly take-home pay (on each metro’s median wage, single filer) in U.S.-average dollars. Price level: BEA RPP 2024 (U.S. = 100). Rent: HUD FY2026 one-bedroom fair market rent.
Lewiston, ME vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lewiston, ME | 94.7 | $1,218 | $49,540 | 47,660 |
| Farmington, NM | 87.7 | $885 | $45,820 | 47,670 |
| Johnstown, PA | 85.9 | $846 | $44,110 | 47,810 |
| Hammond, LA | 84.5 | $848 | $38,480 | 47,820 |
| Ithaca, NY | 103.3 | $1,466 | $58,130 | 47,980 |
| Morristown, TN | 86.4 | $887 | $44,280 | 47,290 |
| Albany, OR | 102.1 | $1,236 | $49,700 | 47,260 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Lewiston, ME expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Lewiston-Auburn, ME metro area are 94.7% of the U.S. average, with housing at 69.0%. It is the #172 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Lewiston, ME?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $56,842 in Lewiston, ME (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $49,540.
Can you afford Lewiston, ME on the median wage?
A single worker on the $49,540 median wage takes home about $3,319 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $1,218 would take 37% of that.
How much is rent in Lewiston, ME?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Lewiston, ME are $1,140 for a studio, $1,218 for one bedroom, $1,586 for two bedrooms and $2,050 for three bedrooms, including utilities.