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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. And as far as the data shows, on a $150K salary, 2 cities (100%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices. We ran the numbers on 2 cities in Nebraska using 2026 census…
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. And as far as the data shows, on a $150K salary, 2 cities (100%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices. We ran the numbers on 2 cities in Nebraska using 2026 census, rent, and salary data. Lincoln comes out on top — here's the full ranking and analysis.
A closer look at Lincoln: the cost index of 76 breaks down to a Housing index of 76 (strongest category) and a Healthcare index of 95 (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.
On a $150K salary, the key number is $3,750/month — that's 30% of gross, the standard affordability line. Lincoln ($1,293/mo, 10%), Omaha ($1,403/mo, 11%) all clear that bar. After federal tax, FICA (7.65%), and state income tax, estimated take-home ranges from $100,723 to $100,723/year across these top picks.
You don't need to read between the lines. The lines say it all: 2 of 2 cities keep rent under 30% of $150K. The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $150K salary, 2 cities (100%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices. For anyone relocating from a high-cost market, this will feel like a raise.
Perhaps more importantly, 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.
What to do with this data: use the ranking as a shortlist, then dig into the city profiles for trend lines and category breakdowns. The difference between #1 and #5 is often smaller than the difference between "good on paper" and "actually fits my life." Compare your top picks with our calculator to see real take-home numbers.
#1 Ranked: Lincoln — cost index 76, rent $1,293/mo, income $69,991
2 of 2 cities keep rent under 30% of $150K
2 of 2 cities keep rent under 30% of $150K gross income
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
294,757 residents · Nebraska
What does daily life actually cost in Lincoln? Start with the 22% rent-to-income ratio — that's the kind of margin that lets people build savings. On the category level, Housing (index 76) is where the real savings show up, while Healthcare (index 95) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $69,991 and homes at $285,359 round out a profile that ranks #1 for clear reasons (though the trend is moving in the right direction).
483,335 residents · Nebraska
Look, Why Omaha ranks #2: the numbers tell a clear story. That's more or less in line with the region. At 82 on the cost index, residents save roughly 29% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,403/month while the median household pulls in $72,708/year. The Housing category is particularly strong at 82, though Healthcare (96) lags behind. Home prices average $288,850 — $178,520 below the national median.
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Lincoln | 5.84% | 6.94% | 1.54% | $100,723 |
2Omaha | 5.84% | 6.94% | 1.54% | $100,723 |
Lincoln ranks #1 in Nebraska for this analysis with a cost index of 76 and median income of $69,991.
Yes. On a $150K salary in Lincoln, rent would consume about 10% 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 $150K in Lincoln is approximately $100,723/year ($8,394/month). After median rent of $1,293/month, you'd have roughly $85,207/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.