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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Dollar for dollar, few states match Nebraska's value. And depending on your situation, 2 out of 2 cities undercut the national cost index of 112. Leading the pack: Lincoln at index 94, where median rent of $1,293/month saves renters $7,224/year versus the national median. The definition of value.
Dollar for dollar, few states match Nebraska's value. And depending on your situation, 2 out of 2 cities undercut the national cost index of 112. Leading the pack: Lincoln at index 94, where median rent of $1,293/month saves renters $7,224/year versus the national median. The definition of value.
Why Lincoln ranks #1: the numbers tell a clear story. At 94 on the cost index, residents save roughly 18% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,293/month while the median household pulls in $69,991/year. The Housing category is particularly strong at 84, though Healthcare (96) lags behind. Home prices average $285,359 — $182,011 below the national median.
On a $60K salary, the key number is $1,500/month — that's 30% of gross, the standard affordability line. Lincoln ($1,293/mo, 26%), Omaha ($1,403/mo, 28%) all clear that bar. After federal tax, FICA (7.65%), and state income tax, estimated take-home ranges from $43,653 to $43,653/year across these top picks.
Worth noting: Across Nebraska, the average cost of living index is 95 — 17 points below the national median. Known for flyover affordability hiding in plain sight, the state offers 2 tracked cities with median rents averaging $1,348/month. That's $547 less than the national average of $1,895. If two cities have the same income, this cost gap is the tiebreaker.
Bottom line: Lincoln leads this ranking for clear, data-backed reasons — but the "best" city depends on your priorities. Click into any city below to see the full detail page with 12-month trend charts, profession-specific salary data, and a breakdown of all five cost categories. If you're seriously considering a move, use our salary calculator to model your specific income against these numbers.
#1 Ranked: Lincoln — cost index 94, rent $1,293/mo, income $69,991
2 of 2 cities keep rent under 30% of $60K gross income
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
294,757 residents · Nebraska
In plain English: a closer look at Lincoln: the cost index of 94 breaks down to a Housing index of 84 (strongest category) and a Healthcare index of 96 (weakest). Median rent is $1,293/month — 32% below the national median — while household income sits at $69,991, meaning locals spend about 22% of income on rent. That's a healthy margin by any standard.
483,335 residents · Nebraska
The #2 spot goes to Omaha, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $1,403/month — saving renters $5,904 per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Utilities is the standout at index 88, making it one of the cheapest in the country for that category. The weak spot? Healthcare at 99. At a 23% rent-to-income ratio, there's genuine breathing room in the average household budget.
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Lincoln | 5.84% | 6.94% | 1.54% | $43,653 |
2Omaha | 5.84% | 6.94% | 1.54% | $43,653 |
Lincoln ranks #1 in Nebraska for this analysis with a cost index of 94 and median income of $69,991.
Yes. On a $60K salary in Lincoln, rent would consume about 26% of your gross monthly income. Financial experts recommend keeping rent under 30%. You're well within that guideline.
Our cost of living index uses real Zillow rent data as the foundation, indexed to 100 (national median). Sub-categories (housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare) are derived from the overall index with regional adjustments. Data is updated monthly.
Lincoln (ranked #1) has a cost index of 94 and rent of $1,293/mo, while Omaha (ranked #2) has a cost index of 96 and rent of $1,403/mo — a 2-point difference in cost of living.
City data is refreshed monthly from Census Bureau population estimates, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary data, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Last updated: 2026.
The median 1-bedroom rent in Lincoln is $1,293/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $602 below the national median of $1,895/month.
After federal taxes, FICA (7.65%), and 5.84% state income tax, estimated take-home on $60K in Lincoln is approximately $43,653/year ($3,638/month). After median rent of $1,293/month, you'd have roughly $28,137/year for all other expenses.
The median home price in Lincoln is $285,359, which is 4.1× the local median income. It's on the edge of affordability for median-income households. The national median home price is $467,370.
Nebraska has a 5.84% state income tax rate. Combined state and local sales tax averages 6.94%, and the effective property tax rate is 1.54%.
This ranking was generated using data current as of early 2026. Population and income data comes from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year estimates). Rent and home price data is from Zillow's monthly releases. Tax rates are from the Tax Foundation's 2025 edition. Rankings are refreshed monthly.