Is it cheaper to live in Dallas or Lincoln?

Lincoln, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 30% below Dallas, TX's $1,480, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Dallas than in Lincoln?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in Dallas versus $35,000 in Lincoln.

Which has lower taxes, Dallas or Lincoln?

Dallas is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax 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).

Dallas vs Lincoln Cost of Living 2026

Dallas

Texas

$1,480/mo est.

Lincoln

Nebraska

$1,030/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,480 in Dallas, TX versus $1,030 in Lincoln, NE. Overall, Lincoln, NE is roughly 30% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Dallas, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $67,760 in Dallas, TX and $69,991 in Lincoln, NE — about 3% higher in Lincoln, NE. Texas has no state income tax 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.

Dallas, TX

Lincoln, NE

Rent

Studio

$1,259

$851

+32% in Dallas, TX

1 Bedroom

$1,280

$879

+31% in Dallas, TX

2 Bedroom

$1,500

$1,070

+29% in Dallas, TX

3 Bedroom

$1,559

$1,379

+12% in Dallas, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$295,300

$248,200

+16% in Dallas, TX

Income

Median Household Income

$67,760

$69,991

+3% in Lincoln, NE

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,440

$49,800

+3% in Dallas, TX

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.4 yr

about equal

Homeownership

42.4%

55.8%

+13.4 pp in Lincoln, NE

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.4%

41.0%

+3.6 pp in Lincoln, NE

Avg Commute

26.0 min

18.3 min

+7.7 min in Dallas, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

661.9

363.1

+45% in Dallas, TX

Property Crime

3,412.9

2,484.4

+27% in Dallas, TX

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

67.2°F

51.5°F

+15.7°F in Dallas, TX

Annual Precipitation

37.6 in

30.9 in

+6.7 in in Dallas, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$3.94/gal

+9% in Lincoln, NE

Area: Texas vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.50

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.4

13.6

+17% in Dallas, TX

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$30.48

$15.53

+49% in Dallas, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Lincoln, NE

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.66

+5% in Dallas, TX

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$3.63

+64% in Lincoln, NE

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.77

+5% in Lincoln, NE

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.10

+10% in Lincoln, NE

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / NE)

6.25%

5.5%

+0.8 pp in TX

Income Tax (top rate)

None

4.55%

+4.5 pp in NE

Dallas vs Lincoln — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Dallas or Lincoln?: Lincoln, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 30% below Dallas, TX's $1,480, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Dallas than in Lincoln?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in Dallas versus $35,000 in Lincoln.
Which has lower taxes, Dallas or Lincoln?: Dallas is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax 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).