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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Nebraska is a genuine bargain: 2 of the 2 cities in this ranking come in below the national cost-of-living average. Lincoln leads at an index of 94 with rent at just $1,293/month — 32% less than the $1,895 national median. Here are the numbers, sourced from federal data updated in 2026 (not adjusted…
#1 Ranked: Lincoln — cost index 94, rent $1,293/mo, income $69,991
2 of 2 cities come in below the national cost-of-living average of 112
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
Nebraska is a genuine bargain: 2 of the 2 cities in this ranking come in below the national cost-of-living average. Lincoln leads at an index of 94 with rent at just $1,293/month — 32% less than the $1,895 national median. Here are the numbers, sourced from federal data updated in 2026 (not adjusted for inflation, but still telling).
Dive into Lincoln's numbers: cost index 94 — we had to double-check this one — (18 points below national average), rent $1,293/month, income $69,991, and a home price of $285,359. The city's cost profile isn't flat — Housing is the cheapest category at 84, while Healthcare runs 96. With 294,757 residents, it balances mid-size city convenience with manageable costs.
Straight up: the ranking uses a composite of 2026 data from Census Bureau population/income surveys, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary benchmarks, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Lincoln (index 94 — we had to double-check this one — , rent $1,293); Omaha (index 96, rent $1,403). Each city profile below links to the full detail page with 12-month trends, salary breakdowns, and cost category comparisons (though the trend is moving in the right direction).
One more layer before the full breakdown: Nebraska — flyover affordability hiding in plain sight. The 2 cities we track here average a cost index of 95 and median income of $71,350. It's a clear buyer's market compared to national norms. The typical rent runs $1,348/month, which is $547 less than the national median.
Bottom line: Lincoln leads this ranking for clear, data-backed reasons — but the "best" city depends on your priorities. And as far as the data shows, there's not much to say about that beyond the obvious. 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.
294,757 residents · Nebraska
Lincoln earns its position at #1 through a combination that's hard to replicate. And depending on your situation, the 94 cost index sits 18 points below the national baseline, and the $69,991 — we had to double-check this one — median income means purchasing power here is amplified by the low cost base. Homes list at $285,359 — $182,011 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Housing leads the way at 84, while Healthcare trails at 96.
483,335 residents · Nebraska
The numbers for Omaha are straightforward: 96 on the cost index, $1,403/month rent, $72,708 income. Not the most exciting entry in the list, but solid. That's a reasonable number.
Cities are ranked by overall cost of living index in ascending order. This index weights housing (Zillow ZORI rent data) most heavily, with food, transportation, utilities, and healthcare sub-indices providing a composite picture. A score of 80 means overall costs are 20% below the national median. All data is sourced from federal agencies and verified research institutions. Cost of living indices are normalized to 100 (national median) using Zillow rent as the primary signal, with sub-category adjustments derived from regional BLS price data. Rankings are updated monthly as new data is released.
Lincoln ranks #1 in Nebraska for this analysis with a cost index of 94 and median income of $69,991.
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.
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 6.64% 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.