Overall
94.7
-5.3 below avg
Metro cost profile · 2024 BEA RPP
Lewiston-Auburn, ME
Cost-of-living indicators for Lewiston-Auburn, ME, from Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities — overall, goods, services, and rents vs the U.S. average of 100.
- 94.7
- Overall RPP
- #172
- of 387 metros
- 69.0
- Rents RPP
- $106K
- $100K national buys
The verdict
Lewiston costs less than 44% of U.S. metros — an overall index of 94.7, 5.3% below the national average, with services the biggest swing at 134.4.
- 94.7
- overall cost index (US average = 100)
- #172
- most expensive of 387 U.S. metros
- bottom 56%
- by overall cost, nationwide
- 69.0
- rents RPP — the biggest budget swing
A $100,000 national salary carries the purchasing power of about $105,556 here; matching a $100K lifestyle takes roughly $94,736.
What the Numbers Mean for Lewiston
Lewiston ranks #172 of 387 U.S. metro areas measured by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, placing it in the upper half by cost. With an overall Regional Price Parity of 94.7, Lewiston-Auburn, ME is 5.3% less expensive than the national baseline of 100. The gap between Lewiston's most and least expensive categories — services at 134.4 versus rents at 69.0 — is what drives the household budget experience on the ground, not the single headline number.
Translated into dollars, a nationally-benchmarked $100,000 salary carries the purchasing power of $105,556 inside Lewiston, while a household needs roughly $94,736 here to match a $100K lifestyle elsewhere. Rents carry the biggest swing in the BEA formula and are indexed at 69.0 — 31.0% below the national average — so anyone weighing a move or a remote-work arbitrage should treat the housing line as the single largest variable in the equation.
Looking at the 2008-2024 trajectory, Lewiston's overall index has fallen by 3.0 points, improving relative affordability. For the 2024 data year, goods are indexed at 97.2 and services at 134.4, meaning everyday spending in Lewiston is governed more by the services and rent mix than by retail goods prices. Readers comparing multiple destinations should always pair the RPP headline with local wage data and housing costs before drawing relocation conclusions.
Lewiston vs every U.S. metro
Where this metro sits in the national cost distribution
95 Top 44% higher than 56% of 387 US metros
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities · 2024
Lewiston cost breakdown
BEA RPP by category — 100 = national average
- Rents
Rents
69 RPP
- Services
Services
134.4 RPP
- Overall
Overall
94.7 RPP
- Goods
Goods
97.2 RPP
What this shows Lewiston's gap from the national average is led by services at 134.4. Goods barely move between metros; the spread you feel is housing and services.
Goods vs. housing — where Lewiston's cost comes from
Metros near Lewiston's overall cost, plotted by their goods price (horizontal) and housing price (vertical). Same headline RPP, very different structures.
Crosshairs sit at the group median (goods 97.2, rents 76.2). Lewiston is cheaper than its peers on both housing and goods. These metros sit near Lewiston's overall cost, yet they spread across the chart — proof that two places at the same headline RPP can have very different goods-vs-housing structures.
Price Index Summary
Goods
97.2
-2.8 below avg
Services
134.4
+34.4 above avg
Rents
69.0
-31.0 below avg
Salary Equivalent
A $100,000 salary at the national average cost of living equals:
$94,736
in Lewiston-Auburn, ME purchasing power
$50,000 nationally
$47,368
$75,000 nationally
$71,052
$125,000 nationally
$118,420
$150,000 nationally
$142,104
$200,000 nationally
$189,472
Use the salary calculator for custom amounts.
RPP History (2008-2024)
The cost of living has been trending downward, decreasing by 3.0 points over this period.
| Year | Overall |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 97.7 |
| 2009 | 103.3 |
| 2010 | 99.0 |
| 2011 | 98.7 |
| 2012 | 98.8 |
| 2013 | 95.2 |
| 2014 | 92.8 |
| 2015 | 97.2 |
| 2016 | 96.6 |
| 2017 | 95.9 |
| 2018 | 99.3 |
| 2019 | 96.4 |
| 2020 | 99.7 |
| 2021 | 93.9 |
| 2022 | 101.3 |
| 2023 | 100.9 |
| 2024 | 94.7 |
Metros with Similar Cost of Living
These metros have an overall RPP closest to Lewiston-Auburn, ME's index of 94.7.
What this means for Lewiston
How to read Lewiston's cost of living before a move, a job offer, or a budget.
- Budget to local prices, not headline pay — a $100K national salary spends like about $105,556 in Lewiston. Salary calculator
- Weigh housing heaviest: rents here index at 69.0 (31.0% below average) — the single largest swing in the RPP, while goods barely move between metros.
- Local median household income is $67,298; adjusted for Lewiston's price level that is about $71,037 in national-average buying power.
- Compare Lewiston head-to-head against a specific destination before you decide. Compare metros
RPP is BEA's annual price-level benchmark for the data year shown — not a live market quote. Pair it with current local wages and housing costs before deciding.
Compare to Other Metros
Cost of Living Guides
Cheapest Metros to Live in 2026
Official BEA data on the most affordable areas
Most Expensive Cities: 2026 Rankings
What drives high costs and how to cope
Salary Negotiation Using RPP Data
Calculate real purchasing power for negotiations
Comparing Metro Areas
Step-by-step BEA RPP comparison walkthrough
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost of living in Lewiston-Auburn, ME? ▼
Lewiston-Auburn, ME has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 94.7, meaning it is 5.3% less expensive than the national average. Goods are indexed at 97.2, services at 134.4, and rents at 69.0. It ranks #172 out of 387 U.S. metro areas by overall cost.
What salary do I need in Lewiston-Auburn, ME to match $100K nationally? ▼
To maintain the same purchasing power as a $100,000 salary at the national average, you would need approximately $94,736 in Lewiston-Auburn, ME. Conversely, $100K earned in Lewiston-Auburn, ME has the purchasing power of $105,556 at the national average.
How expensive is rent in Lewiston-Auburn, ME? ▼
Rents in Lewiston-Auburn, ME are indexed at 69.0, which is 31.0% below the national average. This makes the area relatively affordable for renters.
Is Lewiston-Auburn, ME getting more expensive? ▼
From 2008 to 2024, Lewiston-Auburn, ME's overall cost index changed by -3.0 points (from 97.7 to 94.7). The cost of living has been declining.
What costs the most in Lewiston-Auburn, ME? ▼
The most expensive category in Lewiston-Auburn, ME is services at 134.4, which is 34.4% above the national average. The most affordable category is rents at 69.0, 31.0% below average.
What metros have a similar cost of living to Lewiston-Auburn, ME? ▼
Metros with the most similar overall cost index include San Antonio-New Braunfels, Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, Pittsburgh. These areas have RPP values within a few points of Lewiston-Auburn, ME's 94.7.
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by Metropolitan Statistical Area (2024). Index where national average = 100.
Related
Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCost Editorial
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Federal data behind these figures
- BEA Regional Price Parities (RPP) — the cost-of-living indices shown on this page. bea.gov/data/regional-price-parities
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) — the gross-rent observations BEA uses to build the rents component. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI) — the price program underlying BEA's goods and services price relatives. bls.gov/cpi
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — wage reference for the labor-driven services component. bls.gov/oes
- HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) — federal 40th-percentile rent cross-reference for the housing component. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr
