Portland, ME vs Lewiston, ME: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Lewiston, ME is 7.0% less expensive than Portland, ME (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Portland works out to about $69,800 in Lewiston, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 34.4% less in Lewiston. Goods are 0.0% higher and other services 0.0% higher.
- Typical asking rent is $1,589 a month in Lewiston and $2,296 in Portland, $8,484 a year less in Lewiston (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $329,000 in Lewiston and $537,000 in Portland.
- The gap has widened since 2019, when Lewiston was 1.2% less expensive than Portland.
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Housing drives the gap: 34.4% lower in Lewiston than in Portland
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Portland, ME
- Lewiston, ME
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Portland, ME | Lewiston, ME | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 101.9 | 94.7 |
| Goods | 97.2 | 97.2 |
| Housing (rents) | 105.2 | 69.0 |
| Utilities | 134.6 | 134.4 |
| Other services | 103.2 | 103.2 |
| Category | Portland | Lewiston | Lewiston vs Portland |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 101.9 | 94.7 | −7.0% |
| Goods | 97.2 | 97.2 | 0.0% |
| Housing (rents) | 105.2 | 69.0 | −34.4% |
| Utilities | 134.6 | 134.4 | −0.2% |
| Other services | 103.2 | 103.2 | 0.0% |
| Typical asking rent | $2,296 | $1,589 | −30.8% |
| Typical home value | $537,000 | $329,000 | −38.8% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Portland | $75,000 | $69,800 | −7.0% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Portland and Lewiston has widened since 2008: 4.7 points then, 7.1 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Portland, ME
- Lewiston, ME
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Portland, ME | Lewiston, ME | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 102.5 | 97.7 |
| 2009 | 103.1 | 103.3 |
| 2010 | 100.9 | 99.0 |
| 2011 | 98.6 | 98.7 |
| 2012 | 101.3 | 98.8 |
| 2013 | 103.0 | 95.2 |
| 2014 | 94.5 | 92.8 |
| 2015 | 99.9 | 97.2 |
| 2016 | 102.3 | 96.6 |
| 2017 | 102.2 | 95.9 |
| 2018 | 101.9 | 99.3 |
| 2019 | 97.6 | 96.4 |
| 2020 | 102.6 | 99.7 |
| 2021 | 101.9 | 93.9 |
| 2022 | 104.8 | 101.3 |
| 2023 | 104.4 | 100.9 |
| 2024 | 101.9 | 94.7 |
Goods
- Portland, ME
- Lewiston, ME
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Portland, ME | Lewiston, ME | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 100.3 | 100.1 |
| 2009 | 100.7 | 100.6 |
| 2010 | 98.2 | 98.0 |
| 2011 | 98.5 | 98.1 |
| 2012 | 99.2 | 98.8 |
| 2013 | 98.6 | 98.2 |
| 2014 | 98.6 | 97.8 |
| 2015 | 99.6 | 99.1 |
| 2016 | 99.3 | 98.6 |
| 2017 | 100.5 | 99.9 |
| 2018 | 100.9 | 100.9 |
| 2019 | 99.4 | 99.4 |
| 2020 | 99.5 | 99.5 |
| 2021 | 99.2 | 99.2 |
| 2022 | 101.1 | 101.1 |
| 2023 | 98.3 | 98.3 |
| 2024 | 97.2 | 97.2 |
Housing (rents)
- Portland, ME
- Lewiston, ME
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Portland, ME | Lewiston, ME | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 108.3 | 78.8 |
| 2009 | 111.2 | 113.4 |
| 2010 | 107.3 | 96.8 |
| 2011 | 97.3 | 100.3 |
| 2012 | 113.1 | 98.4 |
| 2013 | 119.1 | 70.9 |
| 2014 | 77.2 | 67.7 |
| 2015 | 97.5 | 81.9 |
| 2016 | 113.0 | 78.6 |
| 2017 | 103.7 | 68.6 |
| 2018 | 110.0 | 91.3 |
| 2019 | 79.4 | 71.2 |
| 2020 | 106.2 | 87.0 |
| 2021 | 107.5 | 61.1 |
| 2022 | 106.8 | 85.7 |
| 2023 | 119.4 | 94.8 |
| 2024 | 105.2 | 69.0 |
Utilities
- Portland, ME
- Lewiston, ME
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Portland, ME | Lewiston, ME | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 137.7 | 137.3 |
| 2009 | 137.1 | 137.0 |
| 2010 | 125.9 | 126.4 |
| 2011 | 125.1 | 125.2 |
| 2012 | 121.5 | 120.6 |
| 2013 | 118.0 | 117.7 |
| 2014 | 120.9 | 120.1 |
| 2015 | 120.6 | 120.6 |
| 2016 | 122.1 | 121.7 |
| 2017 | 125.0 | 123.6 |
| 2018 | 129.3 | 127.5 |
| 2019 | 131.7 | 131.0 |
| 2020 | 135.0 | 134.6 |
| 2021 | 128.4 | 128.4 |
| 2022 | 137.2 | 137.6 |
| 2023 | 146.5 | 149.5 |
| 2024 | 134.6 | 134.4 |
Other services
- Portland, ME
- Lewiston, ME
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Portland, ME | Lewiston, ME | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 101.2 | 100.7 |
| 2009 | 101.2 | 100.9 |
| 2010 | 100.0 | 99.6 |
| 2011 | 98.3 | 97.9 |
| 2012 | 98.7 | 98.1 |
| 2013 | 100.8 | 100.9 |
| 2014 | 96.9 | 96.4 |
| 2015 | 100.2 | 99.8 |
| 2016 | 100.8 | 100.1 |
| 2017 | 102.4 | 102.0 |
| 2018 | 99.6 | 99.6 |
| 2019 | 101.5 | 101.5 |
| 2020 | 102.8 | 102.8 |
| 2021 | 101.4 | 101.4 |
| 2022 | 106.1 | 106.1 |
| 2023 | 103.3 | 103.3 |
| 2024 | 103.2 | 103.2 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,589 in Lewiston vs $2,296 in Portland
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Portland, ME
- Lewiston, ME
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Portland, ME | Lewiston, ME | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $1,178 | – | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $1,254 | – | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $1,253 | – | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $1,234 | – | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $1,289 | – | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $1,317 | – | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $1,347 | – | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $1,294 | – | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $1,330 | – | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $1,374 | – | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $1,381 | – | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $1,346 | – | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $1,374 | – | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $1,429 | – | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $1,432 | – | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $1,382 | – | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,456 | – | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $1,506 | – | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,487 | – | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $1,462 | – | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,544 | – | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,572 | – | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,601 | – | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,607 | – | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,671 | – | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,744 | – | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,811 | – | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,828 | – | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,875 | – | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,958 | – | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $2,001 | – | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,969 | $1,304 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $2,001 | $1,333 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $2,077 | $1,373 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $2,100 | $1,374 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $2,039 | – | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $2,097 | $1,438 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $2,159 | $1,452 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $2,176 | $1,466 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $2,130 | $1,476 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $2,172 | $1,524 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $2,241 | $1,532 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $2,247 | $1,542 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $2,200 | $1,569 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $2,249 | $1,540 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $2,298 | $1,585 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $2,296 | $1,589 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $329,000 in Lewiston vs $537,000 in Portland
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Portland, ME
- Lewiston, ME
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Portland, ME | Lewiston, ME | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $241K | $138K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $244K | $140K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $249K | $142K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $253K | $144K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $255K | $144K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $260K | $146K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $264K | $147K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $270K | $151K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $275K | $153K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $281K | $158K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $286K | $161K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $290K | $164K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $293K | $167K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $300K | $169K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $306K | $172K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $308K | $174K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $310K | $177K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $313K | $179K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $316K | $182K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $321K | $186K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $328K | $190K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $335K | $196K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $345K | $204K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $365K | $217K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $385K | $227K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $410K | $241K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $423K | $248K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $426K | $252K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $448K | $267K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $477K | $283K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $475K | $283K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $472K | $279K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $477K | $284K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $492K | $295K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $506K | $305K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $512K | $311K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $516K | $316K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $523K | $321K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $525K | $322K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $527K | $323K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $527K | $326K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $528K | $326K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $526K | $325K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $529K | $327K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $533K | $330K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $533K | $331K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $537K | $329K | $366K |
More about each city
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.