Living Cost Compare
Anaheim

California

$2,090/mo est.

vs
Lincoln

Nebraska

$1,030/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $2,090 in Anaheim, CA versus $1,030 in Lincoln, NE. Overall, Lincoln, NE is roughly 51% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Anaheim, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $90,583 in Anaheim, CA and $69,991 in Lincoln, NE — about 23% higher in Anaheim, CA. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Anaheim, CA
Lincoln, NE

Rent

Studio
$1,929
$851
+56% in Anaheim, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,764
$879
+50% in Anaheim, CA
2 Bedroom
$2,171
$1,070
+51% in Anaheim, CA
3 Bedroom
$2,653
$1,379
+48% in Anaheim, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$771,700
$248,200
+68% in Anaheim, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$90,583
$69,991
+23% in Anaheim, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$55,850
$49,800
+11% in Anaheim, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.9 yr
33.4 yr
+2.5 yr in Anaheim, CA
Homeownership
45.9%
55.8%
+9.9 pp in Lincoln, NE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
28.8%
41.0%
+12.2 pp in Lincoln, NE
Avg Commute
28.2 min
18.3 min
+9.9 min in Anaheim, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
597.7
363.1
+39% in Anaheim, CA
Property Crime
2,234.9
2,484.4
+11% in Lincoln, NE

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
67.1°F
51.5°F
+15.6°F in Anaheim, CA
Annual Precipitation
13.4 in
30.9 in
+17.4 in in Lincoln, NE

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.40/gal
$3.94/gal
+27% in Anaheim, CA

Area: Los Angeles vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
—

Adult base one-way fare — OCTA vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
33.3
13.6
+59% in Anaheim, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.72
$15.53
+25% in Anaheim, CA

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.31
+10% in Anaheim, CA
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.66
+19% in Anaheim, CA
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$3.63
+66% in Lincoln, NE
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.77
+8% in Anaheim, CA
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.10
+4% in Lincoln, NE
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.62
+12% in Anaheim, CA

Average prices — West vs Midwest (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CA / NE)
7.25%
5.5%
+1.8 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
4.55%
+8.8 pp in CA

Anaheim vs Lincoln — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Anaheim or Lincoln?
Lincoln, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 51% below Anaheim, CA's $2,090, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Anaheim than in Lincoln?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $71,000 a year in Anaheim versus $35,000 in Lincoln.
Which has lower taxes, Anaheim or Lincoln?
Anaheim is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); Lincoln under Nebraska's (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).