Is it cheaper to live in Hartford or Lincoln?

Lincoln, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 21% below Hartford, CT's $1,300, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Hartford versus $35,000 in Lincoln.

Which has lower taxes, Hartford or Lincoln?

Hartford is taxed under Connecticut's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax); Lincoln under Nebraska's (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax).

Hartford vs Lincoln Cost of Living 2026

Hartford

Connecticut

$1,300/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 $1,300 in Hartford, CT versus $1,030 in Lincoln, NE. Overall, Lincoln, NE is roughly 21% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Hartford, CT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $45,300 in Hartford, CT and $69,991 in Lincoln, NE — about 35% higher in Lincoln, NE. Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax; Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Hartford, CT

Lincoln, NE

Rent

Studio

$973

$851

+13% in Hartford, CT

1 Bedroom

$1,042

$879

+16% in Hartford, CT

2 Bedroom

$1,296

$1,070

+17% in Hartford, CT

3 Bedroom

$1,433

$1,379

+4% in Hartford, CT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$217,200

$248,200

+14% in Lincoln, NE

Income

Median Household Income

$45,300

$69,991

+55% in Lincoln, NE

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$59,940

$49,800

+17% in Hartford, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.4 yr

about equal

Homeownership

25.7%

55.8%

+30.1 pp in Lincoln, NE

Bachelor's+ (25+)

18.3%

41.0%

+22.7 pp in Lincoln, NE

Avg Commute

22.8 min

18.3 min

+4.5 min in Hartford, CT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

527.5

363.1

+31% in Hartford, CT

Property Crime

2,949.2

2,484.4

+16% in Hartford, CT

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

51.2°F

51.5°F

+0.3°F in Lincoln, NE

Annual Precipitation

43.6 in

30.9 in

+12.7 in in Hartford, CT

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.85/gal

+2% in Hartford, CT

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

24.3

13.3

+46% in Hartford, CT

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$23.33

$20.10

+14% in Hartford, CT

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$1.66

+14% in Hartford, CT

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$3.63

+66% in Lincoln, NE

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$6.77

+2% in Hartford, CT

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$2.10

+4% in Hartford, CT

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.62

+11% in Hartford, CT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CT / NE)

6.35%

5.5%

+0.8 pp in CT

Income Tax (top rate)

6.99%

4.55%

+2.4 pp in CT

Hartford vs Lincoln — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Hartford or Lincoln?: Lincoln, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 21% below Hartford, CT's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Hartford than in Lincoln?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Hartford versus $35,000 in Lincoln.
Which has lower taxes, Hartford or Lincoln?: Hartford is taxed under Connecticut's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% 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).