Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Lewiston, ME Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Lewiston, ME

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,706 in Austin, TX versus $2,704 in Lewiston, ME.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,169 in Austin, TX versus $3,873 in Lewiston, ME.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,633 in Austin, TX versus $5,041 in Lewiston, ME.

Monthly costs are close between Austin, TX and Lewiston, ME; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 103% above, Lewiston, ME 102% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.70 $19.70

$19.36 $19.36

1.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.0 $76.0

$98.4 $98.4

-22.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.86 $9.86

$13.37 $13.37

-26.25%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$4.54 $4.54

20.70%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 $2.65

$2.81 $2.81

-5.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 $2.09

$2.18 $2.18

-4.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.09 $6.09

$6.04 $6.04

0.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.15 $8.15

$7.45 $7.45

9.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$1.34 $1.34

-17.91%

White Bread (500g)

$3.39 $3.39

$3.43 $3.43

-1.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.38 $3.38

$2.26 $2.26

49.56%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$6.62 $6.62

-33.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.10 $12.10

$10.89 $10.89

11.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.84 $10.84

$8.76 $8.76

23.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.68 $14.68

$10.85 $10.85

35.30%

Apples (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$2.18 $2.18

127.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 $1.51

$2.25 $2.25

-32.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.40 $4.40

$5.84 $5.84

-24.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$5.71 $5.71

-28.20%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$4.48 $4.48

-37.28%

Onion (1kg)

$2.87 $2.87

$4.50 $4.50

-36.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$3.27 $3.27

-40.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$0.87 $0.87

150.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.99 $8.99

$8.82 $8.82

1.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$14.71 $14.71

2.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.33 $2.33

$2.07 $2.07

12.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 $3.43

$1.95 $1.95

75.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.96 $1.96

-21.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.15 $44.15

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.41 $4.41

$3.92 $3.92

12.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.83 $1.83

$1.76 $1.76

3.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.65 $34.65

$29.55 $29.55

17.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 $0.78

$0.89 $0.89

-12.36%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$26.0K $26.0K

$29.4K $29.4K

-11.67%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.9K $25.9K

$26.2K $26.2K

-1.29%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$175 $175

$324 $324

-46.14%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$59.7 $59.7

$74.0 $74.0

-19.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.5 $65.5

$66.1 $66.1

-0.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.3 $61.3

$43.14 $43.14

42.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.89 $9.89

Cinema Ticket

$14.76 $14.76

$14.50 $14.50

1.79%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,372 $1,372

$1,516 $1,516

-9.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$23.6K $23.6K

-6.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.5 $56.5

$15.97 $15.97

253.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.29 $45.29

$31.91 $31.91

41.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 $85.0

$65.7 $65.7

29.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 $118

$83.5 $83.5

41.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,201 $2,201

$963 $963

128.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,403 $1,403

$1,344 $1,344

4.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,815 $3,815

$1,930 $1,930

97.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,680 $2,680

$2,266 $2,266

18.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,133 $7,133

$2,739 $2,739

160.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,078 $3,078

$2,581 $2,581

19.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,110 $5,110

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.61

-2.42%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Austin, TX: July 12, 2026

Last update for Lewiston, ME: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,201 in Austin, TX and $963 in Lewiston, ME. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $76.0 in Austin, TX vs $98.0 in Lewiston, ME. Groceries flip the comparison at $379 vs $358, with Lewiston, ME cheaper for home cooking.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Austin, TX vs Lewiston, ME: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

You'd need roughly $4,059 in Austin, TX and $4,056 in Lewiston, ME to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,201 in Austin, TX versus $963 in Lewiston, ME. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 6% higher in Austin, TX. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Lewiston, ME – a meal for two runs $98.0 versus $76.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,704 in Lewiston, ME versus $2,706 in Austin, TX, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Lewiston, ME but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Lewiston, ME the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

It comes down to priorities – Lewiston, ME wins on affordability, Austin, TX on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.