Living Cost Compare
Chicago

Illinois

$1,490/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 $1,490 in Chicago, IL versus $1,030 in Lincoln, NE. Overall, Lincoln, NE is roughly 31% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Chicago, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $75,134 in Chicago, IL and $69,991 in Lincoln, NE — about 7% higher in Chicago, IL. Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax; Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Chicago, IL
Lincoln, NE

Rent

Studio
$1,186
$851
+28% in Chicago, IL
1 Bedroom
$1,258
$879
+30% in Chicago, IL
2 Bedroom
$1,406
$1,070
+24% in Chicago, IL
3 Bedroom
$1,554
$1,379
+11% in Chicago, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$315,200
$248,200
+21% in Chicago, IL

Income

Median Household Income
$75,134
$69,991
+7% in Chicago, IL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,720
$49,800
+9% in Chicago, IL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.7 yr
33.4 yr
+2.3 yr in Chicago, IL
Homeownership
45.5%
55.8%
+10.3 pp in Lincoln, NE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
43.3%
41.0%
+2.3 pp in Chicago, IL
Avg Commute
33.5 min
18.3 min
+15.2 min in Chicago, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
539.8
363.1
+33% in Chicago, IL
Property Crime
3,489.9
2,484.4
+29% in Chicago, IL

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
52.7°F
51.5°F
+1.2°F in Chicago, IL
Annual Precipitation
38.0 in
30.9 in
+7.1 in in Chicago, IL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.29/gal
$3.94/gal
+8% in Chicago, IL

Area: Chicago vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.50
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
23.9
13.6
+43% in Chicago, IL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.39
$15.53
+1% in Lincoln, NE

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.66
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$3.63
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.77
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.10
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IL / NE)
6.25%
5.5%
+0.8 pp in IL
Income Tax (top rate)
4.95%
4.55%
+0.4 pp in IL

Chicago vs Lincoln — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Chicago or Lincoln?
Lincoln, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 31% below Chicago, IL's $1,490, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Chicago than in Lincoln?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $50,000 a year in Chicago versus $35,000 in Lincoln.
Which has lower taxes, Chicago or Lincoln?
Chicago is taxed under Illinois's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% 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).