Living Cost Compare
Cincinnati

Ohio

$1,030/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 $1,030 in Cincinnati, OH versus $1,030 in Lincoln, NE. The two are close overall, within a few percent of each other.

Median household income is $51,707 in Cincinnati, OH and $69,991 in Lincoln, NE — about 26% higher in Lincoln, NE. Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax; Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Cincinnati, OH
Lincoln, NE

Rent

Studio
$791
$851
+8% in Lincoln, NE
1 Bedroom
$817
$879
+8% in Lincoln, NE
2 Bedroom
$1,023
$1,070
+5% in Lincoln, NE
3 Bedroom
$1,228
$1,379
+12% in Lincoln, NE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$215,300
$248,200
+15% in Lincoln, NE

Income

Median Household Income
$51,707
$69,991
+35% in Lincoln, NE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$50,170
$49,800
+1% in Cincinnati, OH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.0 yr
33.4 yr
+0.4 yr in Lincoln, NE
Homeownership
38.9%
55.8%
+16.9 pp in Lincoln, NE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
41.3%
41.0%
+0.3 pp in Cincinnati, OH
Avg Commute
23.1 min
18.3 min
+4.8 min in Cincinnati, OH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
856.5
363.1
+58% in Cincinnati, OH
Property Crime
3,877.7
2,484.4
+36% in Cincinnati, OH

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
54.3°F
51.5°F
+2.8°F in Cincinnati, OH
Annual Precipitation
41.9 in
30.9 in
+11.1 in in Cincinnati, OH

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.18/gal
$3.94/gal
+6% in Cincinnati, OH

Area: Ohio vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.5
13.6
+30% in Cincinnati, OH
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.83
$15.53
+32% in Cincinnati, OH

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 (OH / NE)
5.75%
5.5%
+0.3 pp in OH
Income Tax (top rate)
2.75%
4.55%
+1.8 pp in NE

Cincinnati vs Lincoln — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cincinnati or Lincoln?
They're close. Cincinnati, OH runs about $1,030 a month and Lincoln, NE about $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) — within a few percent of each other.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cincinnati than in Lincoln?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Cincinnati versus $35,000 in Lincoln.
Which has lower taxes, Cincinnati or Lincoln?
Cincinnati is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% 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).