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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
In plain English: Dollar for dollar, few states match Nebraska's value. 2 out of 2 cities undercut the national cost index of 111. Leading the pack: Lincoln at index 76, where median rent of $1,293/month saves renters $7,224/year versus the national median (though the trend is moving in the right di…
#1 Ranked: Lincoln — cost index 76, rent $1,293/mo, income $69,991
2 of 2 cities keep rent under 30% of $100K gross income
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
In plain English: Dollar for dollar, few states match Nebraska's value. 2 out of 2 cities undercut the national cost index of 111. Leading the pack: Lincoln at index 76, where median rent of $1,293/month saves renters $7,224/year versus the national median (though the trend is moving in the right direction).
So, Lincoln. That tracks. Cost index of 76, rent at $1,293/month. It's lower than the national average. Median income is $69,991, which is below the national median. That alone makes it worth considering.
On a $100K salary, the key number is $2,500/month — that's 30% of gross, the standard affordability line. And on balance, lincoln ($1,293/mo, 16%), Omaha ($1,403/mo, 17%) all clear that bar. After federal tax, FICA (7.65%), and state income tax, estimated take-home ranges from $69,457 to $69,457/year across these top picks.
In practical terms, though: The 2 cities we track in Nebraska paint a clearly affordable picture. Average cost index: 79. Median rent: $1,348/month. Household income: $71,350. Nebraska is known for flyover affordability hiding in plain sight — and the data backs that reputation convincingly (and that gap widens if you factor in state taxes).
Bottom line: Lincoln leads this ranking for clear, data-backed reasons — but the "best" city depends on your priorities. And generally speaking, 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
Why Lincoln ranks #1: the numbers tell a clear story. At 76 on the cost index, residents save roughly 35% 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 76, though Healthcare (95) lags behind. Home prices average $285,359 — $182,011 below the national median (not adjusted for inflation, but still telling).
483,335 residents · Nebraska
Omaha earns its position at #2 through a combination that's hard to replicate. And depending on your situation, the 82 cost index sits 29 points below the national baseline, and the $72,708 median income means purchasing power here is amplified by the low cost base. Homes list at $288,850 — $178,520 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Housing leads the way at 82, while Healthcare trails at 96.
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Lincoln | 5.84% | 6.94% | 1.54% | $69,457 |
2Omaha | 5.84% | 6.94% | 1.54% | $69,457 |
We model what a $100K salary looks like after taxes in each city: federal income tax (marginal brackets), FICA (7.65%), and state income tax. Then we compare take-home against local rent and costs to determine where the salary stretches furthest. 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 76 and median income of $69,991.
Yes. On a $100K salary in Lincoln, rent would consume about 16% 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 76 and rent of $1,293/mo, while Omaha (ranked #2) has a cost index of 82 and rent of $1,403/mo — a 6-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 $100K in Lincoln is approximately $69,457/year ($5,788/month). After median rent of $1,293/month, you'd have roughly $53,941/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.