Cost of living in Lewiston, ME

Lewiston-Auburn, ME metro area · Data updated October 2026

Lewiston cost of living compared to the national average

Overall prices vs US average 94.7 5.3% less expensive than the US officialBEA, 2024. US = 100
Rank among 387 metro areas 172nd 1st = most expensive. Cheaper than 44% of metros. derivedFrom BEA, 2024
Typical asking rent $1,589/mo US: $1,932/mo officialZillow ZORI, Sep 2026
Typical home value $329,000 US: $366,000 officialZillow ZHVI, Sep 2026

What the numbers say

  • Overall prices in Lewiston, ME are 5.3% below the national average; 171 of 387 metro areas are more expensive (BEA 2024).
  • Housing is the main reason prices in Lewiston differ from the national level: housing costs (rents) are 31.0% below the US average, while goods are 2.8% below average and other services 3.2% above average.
  • Utilities stand out in Lewiston: household electricity, gas, water and sewer prices are 34.4% above the US average.
  • Compared with the rest of the country, Lewiston has become less expensive since 2019: the index went from 96.4 to 94.7, and its rank from 123rd to 172nd most expensive.
  • Zillow's typical asking rent in Lewiston is $1,589 a month (September 2026), 17.8% less than the US figure of $1,932.
  • The metro areas with the most similar mix of costs are Bangor, ME, Waterbury, CT and Norwich, CT.

Written from this page's own figures. Price levels are for an average household basket and do not include taxes. How we calculate.

Compare Lewiston, ME with another city

What salary would you need if you moved from Lewiston?

Where the money goes

BEA splits prices into four parts. Housing covers rents for renters and the rental value of owned homes; goods include food, clothing, cars and fuel; other services include health care, eating out, transport and recreation.

In Lewiston, utilities is the category furthest from the US average: 34.4% above

Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.

All items
Lewiston, ME: 94.7
Goods
Lewiston, ME: 97.2
Housing (rents)
Lewiston, ME: 69.0
Utilities
Lewiston, ME: 134.4
Other services
Lewiston, ME: 103.2

Bars to the right of the line cost more than the US average; to the left, less.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
Lewiston, ME
All items94.7
Goods97.2
Housing (rents)69.0
Utilities134.4
Other services103.2

How prices have changed since 2008

These are price levels relative to the whole country in each year, not inflation. A line going up means Lewiston got more expensive compared with the rest of the US.

Lewiston has become less expensive relative to the US since 2008: 97.7 then, 94.7 now

Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.

US average = 100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
Lewiston, ME
200897.7
2009103.3
201099.0
201198.7
201298.8
201395.2
201492.8
201597.2
201696.6
201795.9
201899.3
201996.4
202099.7
202193.9
2022101.3
2023100.9
202494.7

Goods: 100.1 in 2008, 97.2 in 2024

US = 100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
Lewiston, ME
2008100.1
2009100.6
201098.0
201198.1
201298.8
201398.2
201497.8
201599.1
201698.6
201799.9
2018100.9
201999.4
202099.5
202199.2
2022101.1
202398.3
202497.2

Housing (rents): 78.8 in 2008, 69.0 in 2024

US = 100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
Lewiston, ME
200878.8
2009113.4
201096.8
2011100.3
201298.4
201370.9
201467.7
201581.9
201678.6
201768.6
201891.3
201971.2
202087.0
202161.1
202285.7
202394.8
202469.0

Utilities: 137.3 in 2008, 134.4 in 2024

US = 100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
Lewiston, ME
2008137.3
2009137.0
2010126.4
2011125.2
2012120.6
2013117.7
2014120.1
2015120.6
2016121.7
2017123.6
2018127.5
2019131.0
2020134.6
2021128.4
2022137.6
2023149.5
2024134.4

Other services: 100.7 in 2008, 103.2 in 2024

US = 100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
Lewiston, ME
2008100.7
2009100.9
201099.6
201197.9
201298.1
2013100.9
201496.4
201599.8
2016100.1
2017102.0
201899.6
2019101.5
2020102.8
2021101.4
2022106.1
2023103.3
2024103.2

Rent and home prices

Monthly figures from Zillow, newer than BEA's yearly index. Zillow's rent index tracks asking rents for new leases, which move faster than what existing tenants pay. A typical home here costs 17.2 times a year of typical rent (US: 15.8). derived

Typical asking rent in Lewiston: $1,589 a month in September 2026

Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month.

  • 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
Lewiston, MEUnited States
Nov 2022$1,298$1,738
Dec 2022$1,304$1,735
Jan 2023$1,292$1,737
Feb 2023$1,319$1,744
Mar 2023$1,333$1,757
Apr 2023$1,366$1,767
May 2023$1,366$1,778
Jun 2023$1,373$1,785
Jul 2023$1,351$1,793
Aug 2023$1,357$1,797
Sep 2023$1,374$1,797
Oct 2023$1,398$1,793
Nov 2023$1,409$1,788
Dec 2023–$1,786
Jan 2024$1,385$1,789
Feb 2024$1,400$1,797
Mar 2024$1,438$1,807
Apr 2024$1,445$1,817
May 2024$1,453$1,828
Jun 2024$1,452$1,837
Jul 2024$1,450$1,843
Aug 2024$1,460$1,846
Sep 2024$1,466$1,845
Oct 2024$1,476$1,841
Nov 2024$1,477$1,838
Dec 2024$1,476$1,836
Jan 2025$1,494$1,841
Feb 2025$1,513$1,849
Mar 2025$1,524$1,860
Apr 2025$1,530$1,869
May 2025$1,517$1,876
Jun 2025$1,532$1,880
Jul 2025$1,539$1,883
Aug 2025$1,538$1,883
Sep 2025$1,542$1,881
Oct 2025$1,537$1,878
Nov 2025$1,552$1,875
Dec 2025$1,569$1,873
Jan 2026$1,574$1,876
Feb 2026$1,539$1,883
Mar 2026$1,540$1,894
Apr 2026$1,543$1,904
May 2026$1,590$1,913
Jun 2026$1,585$1,921
Jul 2026$1,582$1,926
Aug 2026$1,586$1,930
Sep 2026$1,589$1,932

Typical home value in Lewiston: $329,000 in September 2026, up 32.3% over five years

Typical home value, dollars.

  • 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
Lewiston, MEUnited States
Jan 2000$85K$123K
Feb 2000$85K$123K
Mar 2000$85K$123K
Apr 2000$86K$124K
May 2000$87K$124K
Jun 2000$87K$125K
Jul 2000$88K$126K
Aug 2000$89K$127K
Sep 2000$90K$127K
Oct 2000$90K$128K
Nov 2000$91K$129K
Dec 2000$91K$130K
Jan 2001$93K$131K
Feb 2001$94K$131K
Mar 2001$95K$132K
Apr 2001$95K$133K
May 2001$95K$134K
Jun 2001$96K$134K
Jul 2001$96K$135K
Aug 2001$97K$136K
Sep 2001$97K$137K
Oct 2001$97K$138K
Nov 2001$98K$139K
Dec 2001$98K$139K
Jan 2002$99K$140K
Feb 2002$100K$141K
Mar 2002$102K$141K
Apr 2002$102K$142K
May 2002$103K$143K
Jun 2002$104K$144K
Jul 2002$105K$144K
Aug 2002$106K$145K
Sep 2002$106K$146K
Oct 2002$107K$147K
Nov 2002$107K$148K
Dec 2002$108K$149K
Jan 2003$108K$150K
Feb 2003$109K$151K
Mar 2003$110K$152K
Apr 2003$110K$153K
May 2003$110K$154K
Jun 2003$111K$155K
Jul 2003$111K$156K
Aug 2003$112K$157K
Sep 2003$113K$158K
Oct 2003$115K$159K
Nov 2003$116K$160K
Dec 2003$117K$161K
Jan 2004$118K$162K
Feb 2004$119K$163K
Mar 2004$121K$164K
Apr 2004$122K$166K
May 2004$123K$167K
Jun 2004$125K$169K
Jul 2004$127K$170K
Aug 2004$128K$172K
Sep 2004$129K$174K
Oct 2004$130K$176K
Nov 2004$131K$177K
Dec 2004$133K$179K
Jan 2005$135K$180K
Feb 2005$137K$182K
Mar 2005$140K$183K
Apr 2005$142K$185K
May 2005$143K$187K
Jun 2005$144K$189K
Jul 2005$144K$191K
Aug 2005$144K$193K
Sep 2005$145K$195K
Oct 2005$146K$196K
Nov 2005$147K$198K
Dec 2005$148K$200K
Jan 2006$149K$201K
Feb 2006$150K$202K
Mar 2006$150K$203K
Apr 2006$150K$205K
May 2006$150K$206K
Jun 2006$150K$207K
Jul 2006$150K$208K
Aug 2006$151K$209K
Sep 2006$151K$209K
Oct 2006$152K$209K
Nov 2006$153K$210K
Dec 2006$153K$210K
Jan 2007$154K$210K
Feb 2007$154K$210K
Mar 2007$154K$210K
Apr 2007$154K$210K
May 2007$153K$210K
Jun 2007$153K$209K
Jul 2007$153K$209K
Aug 2007$152K$208K
Sep 2007$153K$208K
Oct 2007$154K$207K
Nov 2007$154K$206K
Dec 2007$154K$205K
Jan 2008$155K$204K
Feb 2008$155K$203K
Mar 2008$155K$201K
Apr 2008$155K$200K
May 2008$154K$198K
Jun 2008$153K$197K
Jul 2008$152K$195K
Aug 2008$152K$193K
Sep 2008$151K$191K
Oct 2008$150K$190K
Nov 2008$150K$188K
Dec 2008$149K$186K
Jan 2009$149K$184K
Feb 2009$149K$183K
Mar 2009$149K$181K
Apr 2009$149K$180K
May 2009$147K$179K
Jun 2009$145K$178K
Jul 2009$142K$176K
Aug 2009$141K$175K
Sep 2009$140K$174K
Oct 2009$139K$174K
Nov 2009$139K$173K
Dec 2009$138K$173K
Jan 2010$138K$173K
Feb 2010$137K$173K
Mar 2010$137K$173K
Apr 2010$136K$173K
May 2010$136K$173K
Jun 2010$136K$173K
Jul 2010$136K$172K
Aug 2010$136K$172K
Sep 2010$136K$171K
Oct 2010$135K$170K
Nov 2010$135K$168K
Dec 2010$135K$168K
Jan 2011$135K$167K
Feb 2011$135K$166K
Mar 2011$135K$165K
Apr 2011$135K$164K
May 2011$135K$163K
Jun 2011$135K$162K
Jul 2011$135K$162K
Aug 2011$135K$161K
Sep 2011$134K$161K
Oct 2011$134K$160K
Nov 2011$134K$160K
Dec 2011$134K$159K
Jan 2012$134K$159K
Feb 2012$133K$159K
Mar 2012$133K$159K
Apr 2012$134K$160K
May 2012$135K$160K
Jun 2012$135K$161K
Jul 2012$135K$161K
Aug 2012$134K$162K
Sep 2012$134K$162K
Oct 2012$134K$163K
Nov 2012$134K$164K
Dec 2012$134K$164K
Jan 2013$134K$165K
Feb 2013$133K$166K
Mar 2013$133K$167K
Apr 2013$133K$168K
May 2013$134K$169K
Jun 2013$135K$171K
Jul 2013$136K$172K
Aug 2013$137K$173K
Sep 2013$138K$174K
Oct 2013$138K$176K
Nov 2013$137K$177K
Dec 2013$137K$178K
Jan 2014$137K$178K
Feb 2014$137K$179K
Mar 2014$137K$180K
Apr 2014$137K$181K
May 2014$138K$182K
Jun 2014$139K$183K
Jul 2014$139K$184K
Aug 2014$139K$185K
Sep 2014$138K$185K
Oct 2014$138K$186K
Nov 2014$138K$186K
Dec 2014$138K$187K
Jan 2015$138K$188K
Feb 2015$138K$188K
Mar 2015$138K$189K
Apr 2015$138K$190K
May 2015$139K$191K
Jun 2015$140K$192K
Jul 2015$141K$193K
Aug 2015$141K$194K
Sep 2015$142K$195K
Oct 2015$143K$196K
Nov 2015$143K$197K
Dec 2015$144K$199K
Jan 2016$144K$200K
Feb 2016$144K$201K
Mar 2016$144K$202K
Apr 2016$145K$202K
May 2016$145K$203K
Jun 2016$146K$204K
Jul 2016$146K$205K
Aug 2016$146K$206K
Sep 2016$147K$206K
Oct 2016$149K$207K
Nov 2016$150K$208K
Dec 2016$151K$209K
Jan 2017$152K$211K
Feb 2017$153K$212K
Mar 2017$153K$213K
Apr 2017$154K$214K
May 2017$156K$215K
Jun 2017$158K$216K
Jul 2017$159K$217K
Aug 2017$160K$218K
Sep 2017$161K$219K
Oct 2017$162K$220K
Nov 2017$163K$222K
Dec 2017$164K$223K
Jan 2018$165K$224K
Feb 2018$166K$225K
Mar 2018$167K$227K
Apr 2018$168K$228K
May 2018$169K$229K
Jun 2018$169K$230K
Jul 2018$170K$231K
Aug 2018$171K$232K
Sep 2018$172K$234K
Oct 2018$173K$234K
Nov 2018$174K$235K
Dec 2018$174K$236K
Jan 2019$175K$237K
Feb 2019$176K$238K
Mar 2019$177K$239K
Apr 2019$178K$240K
May 2019$179K$241K
Jun 2019$179K$242K
Jul 2019$180K$243K
Aug 2019$181K$243K
Sep 2019$182K$244K
Oct 2019$183K$245K
Nov 2019$185K$246K
Dec 2019$186K$247K
Jan 2020$187K$249K
Feb 2020$188K$250K
Mar 2020$190K$252K
Apr 2020$192K$253K
May 2020$194K$254K
Jun 2020$196K$255K
Jul 2020$197K$255K
Aug 2020$200K$257K
Sep 2020$204K$260K
Oct 2020$208K$263K
Nov 2020$212K$267K
Dec 2020$217K$271K
Jan 2021$220K$274K
Feb 2021$224K$278K
Mar 2021$227K$282K
Apr 2021$231K$286K
May 2021$236K$291K
Jun 2021$241K$296K
Jul 2021$245K$301K
Aug 2021$248K$304K
Sep 2021$248K$306K
Oct 2021$248K$308K
Nov 2021$250K$311K
Dec 2021$252K$314K
Jan 2022$255K$318K
Feb 2022$261K$324K
Mar 2022$267K$330K
Apr 2022$273K$336K
May 2022$279K$342K
Jun 2022$283K$346K
Jul 2022$285K$349K
Aug 2022$285K$349K
Sep 2022$283K$348K
Oct 2022$281K$347K
Nov 2022$280K$346K
Dec 2022$279K$345K
Jan 2023$280K$344K
Feb 2023$282K$343K
Mar 2023$284K$343K
Apr 2023$287K$344K
May 2023$291K$345K
Jun 2023$295K$347K
Jul 2023$299K$349K
Aug 2023$303K$351K
Sep 2023$305K$352K
Oct 2023$308K$353K
Nov 2023$309K$354K
Dec 2023$311K$354K
Jan 2024$312K$354K
Feb 2024$314K$355K
Mar 2024$316K$357K
Apr 2024$319K$359K
May 2024$321K$360K
Jun 2024$321K$361K
Jul 2024$322K$361K
Aug 2024$321K$361K
Sep 2024$322K$361K
Oct 2024$322K$362K
Nov 2024$322K$363K
Dec 2024$323K$363K
Jan 2025$324K$364K
Feb 2025$326K$364K
Mar 2025$326K$364K
Apr 2025$326K$364K
May 2025$326K$363K
Jun 2025$326K$362K
Jul 2025$326K$362K
Aug 2025$325K$362K
Sep 2025$325K$362K
Oct 2025$326K$362K
Nov 2025$326K$363K
Dec 2025$327K$364K
Jan 2026$329K$365K
Feb 2026$330K$365K
Mar 2026$330K$366K
Apr 2026$331K$366K
May 2026$331K$366K
Jun 2026$331K$365K
Jul 2026$331K$365K
Aug 2026$330K$366K
Sep 2026$329K$366K

Gas prices

Regular gasoline averaged $4.25 a gallon in the New England region in the week of October 19, 2026, $0.04 less than the US average of $4.28. EIA does not publish a separate weekly figure for Lewiston, ME, so this is the regional average. official

Work out your commute's gas cost

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, weekly retail gasoline prices, regular grade, including taxes.

Childcare

Not included yet. The free official source (the U.S. Department of Labor's National Database of Childcare Prices) is published by county, with its latest year 2022 and gaps in some states. We will add it once we can show it per metro without guessing.

Where Lewiston ranks

Among 387 metro areas, 2024. 1st is the most expensive.

CategoryIndex (US = 100)RankCheaper than
All items 94.7 172nd of 387 44% of metros
Goods 97.2 101st of 387 26% of metros
Housing (rents) 69.0 272nd of 387 70% of metros
Utilities 134.4 43rd of 387 11% of metros
Other services 103.2 13th of 387 3% of metros

Metro areas with a similar cost mix

Closest in all four categories at once, not just in the overall number.

Metro areaOverallHousingTypical rentCompare
Lewiston, ME (this page) 94.7 69.0 $1,589
Bangor, ME 96.5 77.7 $1,512 Compare
Waterbury, CT 99.8 89.1 n/a Compare
Norwich, CT 100.4 93.7 $2,099 Compare
Pittsfield, MA 95.1 73.5 $1,757 Compare
Springfield, MA 96.1 75.8 $1,963 Compare
Portland, ME 101.9 105.2 $2,296 Compare

Other metro areas in Maine

Cost of living in Maine

Sources and limits

  • Price levels: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), Regional Price Parities, 2008–2024. Last updated February 19, 2026: new statistics for 2024; revised statistics for 2008-2023. Downloaded 2026-10-21.
  • Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group (Zillow Observed Rent Index and Zillow Home Value Index, metro level), through September 2026. Downloaded 2026-10-21.
  • These are averages for the whole metro area and an average household's spending. Your costs depend on neighborhood, household size and habits. Taxes are not included. BEA figures lag by about 18 months.

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