Living Cost Compare
Columbus

Ohio

$1,270/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 $1,270 in Columbus, OH versus $1,030 in Lincoln, NE. Overall, Lincoln, NE is roughly 19% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Columbus, OH, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,327 in Columbus, OH and $69,991 in Lincoln, NE — about 7% 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.

Columbus, OH
Lincoln, NE

Rent

Studio
$1,014
$851
+16% in Columbus, OH
1 Bedroom
$1,059
$879
+17% in Columbus, OH
2 Bedroom
$1,276
$1,070
+16% in Columbus, OH
3 Bedroom
$1,369
$1,379
+1% in Lincoln, NE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$234,500
$248,200
+6% in Lincoln, NE

Income

Median Household Income
$65,327
$69,991
+7% in Lincoln, NE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,340
$49,800
+3% in Columbus, OH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.0 yr
33.4 yr
+0.4 yr in Lincoln, NE
Homeownership
44.3%
55.8%
+11.5 pp in Lincoln, NE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
38.2%
41.0%
+2.8 pp in Lincoln, NE
Avg Commute
21.8 min
18.3 min
+3.5 min in Columbus, OH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
485.2
363.1
+25% in Columbus, OH
Property Crime
3,093.9
2,484.4
+20% in Columbus, OH

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 Columbus, OH
Annual Precipitation
40.1 in
30.9 in
+9.3 in in Columbus, OH

Gas

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

Area: Ohio vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
—

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

Utilities

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

Columbus vs Lincoln — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Columbus or Lincoln?
Lincoln, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 19% below Columbus, OH's $1,270, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Columbus than in Lincoln?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Columbus versus $35,000 in Lincoln.
Which has lower taxes, Columbus or Lincoln?
Columbus 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).