Cost of Living in Lincoln, NE
Lincoln, NE — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Lincoln, NE to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Lincoln, NE?
With a price level of 91.6 (U.S. average = 100), Lincoln, NE is cheaper than average. In detail, housing costs are 16% below average; everyday goods are 6% below average; utilities are 23% below average; other services such as healthcare and dining are 7% below average. The biggest difference from the national average is in utilities.
Prices in Lincoln, NE vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 91.6 | −8.4% |
| Housing | 84.2 | −15.8% |
| Goods | 94.1 | −5.9% |
| Utilities | 76.8 | −23.2% |
| Other services | 93.0 | −7.0% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Lincoln, NE
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $849 | $33,960/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $917 | $36,680/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,132 | $45,280/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,574 | $62,960/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,698 | $67,920/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Lincoln, 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 Lincoln, NE | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $36,600 | $30,802 |
| $60,000 | $54,900 | $44,674 |
| $80,000 | $73,300 | $57,941 |
| $100,000 | $91,600 | $69,982 |
| $150,000 | $137,400 | $99,807 |
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 Lincoln, NE's median wage of $49,800 takes home about $3,401 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $917, which is 27% of take-home pay — within the 30% guideline that financial planners suggest. That leaves about $2,484 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Lincoln, NE
- Federal income tax$3,796
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,088
- Medicare (1.45%)$722
- Nebraska income tax$1,386
- Take-home pay$40,808
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.55% state
Highest-paying jobs in Lincoln, NE
| Job | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|
| General and Operations Manager | $92,780 | $70,759 | $77,264 |
| Registered Nurse | $87,530 | $67,304 | $73,492 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver | $81,790 | $63,527 | $69,367 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $47,230 | $38,860 | $42,432 |
| Customer Service Representative | $41,430 | $34,463 | $37,632 |
| Nursing Assistant | $38,650 | $32,356 | $35,331 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $36,080 | $30,408 | $33,204 |
| Stocker and Order Filler | $35,820 | $30,211 | $32,988 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aide | $35,500 | $29,969 | $32,724 |
| Retail Salesperson | $30,990 | $26,523 | $28,961 |
| Cashier | $30,690 | $26,292 | $28,709 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $28,510 | $24,617 | $26,880 |
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
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.
Lincoln, NE vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln, NE | 91.6 | $917 | $49,800 | 182,620 |
| York, PA | 96.0 | $1,060 | $48,170 | 183,590 |
| Asheville, NC | 96.5 | $1,429 | $46,870 | 180,620 |
| Davenport, IA | 89.1 | $928 | $48,550 | 180,450 |
| Lafayette, LA | 87.2 | $847 | $41,780 | 179,570 |
| Tallahassee, FL | 93.9 | $1,193 | $46,520 | 186,160 |
| Salinas, CA | 109.0 | $2,232 | $47,380 | 186,430 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Lincoln, NE expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Lincoln, NE metro area are 91.6% of the U.S. average, with housing at 84.2%. It is the #256 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Lincoln, NE?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $54,949 in Lincoln, NE (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $49,800.
Can you afford Lincoln, NE on the median wage?
A single worker on the $49,800 median wage takes home about $3,401 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $917 would take 27% of that.
How much is rent in Lincoln, NE?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Lincoln, NE are $849 for a studio, $917 for one bedroom, $1,132 for two bedrooms and $1,574 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
Top salaries by field in Lincoln, NE
Management Occupations
- General and Operations Manager — $92,780
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $87,530
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Nursing Assistant — $38,650
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $35,500
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- Waiter and Waitress — $36,080
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,510
Sales and Related Occupations
- Retail Salesperson — $30,990
- Cashier — $30,690
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — $47,230
- Customer Service Representative — $41,430
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $81,790
- Stocker and Order Filler — $35,820