Cost of Living in Grand Island, NE
Grand Island, NE — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Grand Island, NE to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Grand Island, NE?
With a price level of 86.7 (U.S. average = 100), Grand Island, NE is one of the most affordable places in the country. In detail, housing costs are 38% below average; everyday goods are 6% below average; utilities are 26% below average; other services such as healthcare and dining are 7% below average. The biggest difference from the national average is in housing.
Prices in Grand Island, NE vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 86.7 | −13.3% |
| Housing | 61.7 | −38.3% |
| Goods | 94.1 | −5.9% |
| Utilities | 74.2 | −25.8% |
| Other services | 93.0 | −7.0% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Grand Island, NE
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $839 | $33,560/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $948 | $37,920/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,176 | $47,040/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,486 | $59,440/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,914 | $76,560/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Grand Island, NE
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 Grand Island, NE | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $34,700 | $29,362 |
| $60,000 | $52,000 | $42,476 |
| $80,000 | $69,300 | $55,309 |
| $100,000 | $86,700 | $66,758 |
| $150,000 | $130,000 | $95,086 |
Scaled by the BEA price level (pre-tax). Take-home: single filer, Nebraska 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 Grand Island, NE's median wage of $49,410 takes home about $3,376 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $948, which is 28% of take-home pay — within the 30% guideline that financial planners suggest. That leaves about $2,428 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Grand Island, NE
- Federal income tax$3,749
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,063
- Medicare (1.45%)$716
- Nebraska income tax$1,369
- Take-home pay$40,512
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.55% state
Pay and living costs in Nebraska cities
Half of Nebraska’s 1,024,370 workers earn less than $48,980 a year and half earn more; the middle 50% earn $37,370–$73,830 (BLS, May 2025). Prices vary a lot within the state: Grand Island, NE stretches a paycheck furthest, while Omaha, NE is the costliest.
| Metro area | Median pay | Price level | 1-BR rent | Rent share | Left after rent / mo | Buying power* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha, NE | $49,660 | 91.9 | $1,144 | 34% | $2,248 | $44,284 |
| Lincoln, NE | $49,800 | 91.6 | $917 | 27% | $2,484 | $44,559 |
| Sioux City, IA | $47,030 | 86.5 | $925 | 29% | $2,301 | $44,773 |
| Grand Island, NE | $49,410 | 86.7 | $948 | 28% | $2,428 | $46,750 |
*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.
Grand Island, NE vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Island, NE | 86.7 | $948 | $49,410 | 39,520 |
| Watertown, NY | 87.7 | $1,071 | $47,600 | 39,330 |
| Casper, WY | 93.8 | $852 | $48,880 | 40,020 |
| Goldsboro, NC | 88.5 | $948 | $40,570 | 40,320 |
| Hot Springs, AR | 85.7 | $834 | $36,540 | 38,600 |
| Corvallis, OR | 104.0 | $1,290 | $57,680 | 38,550 |
| Monroe, MI | 93.5 | $1,011 | $46,240 | 40,740 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Grand Island, NE expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Grand Island, NE metro area are 86.7% of the U.S. average, with housing at 61.7%. It is the #358 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Grand Island, NE?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $51,994 in Grand Island, NE (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $49,410.
Can you afford Grand Island, NE on the median wage?
A single worker on the $49,410 median wage takes home about $3,376 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $948 would take 28% of that.
How much is rent in Grand Island, NE?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Grand Island, NE are $839 for a studio, $948 for one bedroom, $1,176 for two bedrooms and $1,486 for three bedrooms, including utilities.