Is it cheaper to live in Henderson or Lincoln?

Lincoln, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 35% below Henderson, NV's $1,580, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Henderson versus $35,000 in Lincoln.

Which has lower taxes, Henderson or Lincoln?

Henderson is taxed under Nevada's rules (no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax); Lincoln under Nebraska's (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax).

Henderson vs Lincoln Cost of Living 2026

Henderson

Nevada

$1,580/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 $1,580 in Henderson, NV versus $1,030 in Lincoln, NE. Overall, Lincoln, NE is roughly 35% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Henderson, NV, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $88,654 in Henderson, NV and $69,991 in Lincoln, NE — about 21% higher in Henderson, NV. Nevada has no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax; Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Henderson, NV

Lincoln, NE

Rent

Studio

$1,442

$851

+41% in Henderson, NV

1 Bedroom

$1,437

$879

+39% in Henderson, NV

2 Bedroom

$1,694

$1,070

+37% in Henderson, NV

3 Bedroom

$1,982

$1,379

+30% in Henderson, NV

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$465,000

$248,200

+47% in Henderson, NV

Income

Median Household Income

$88,654

$69,991

+21% in Henderson, NV

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$46,670

$49,800

+7% in Lincoln, NE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

42.5 yr

33.4 yr

+9.1 yr in Henderson, NV

Homeownership

65.6%

55.8%

+9.8 pp in Henderson, NV

Bachelor's+ (25+)

36.8%

41.0%

+4.2 pp in Lincoln, NE

Avg Commute

24.7 min

18.3 min

+6.4 min in Henderson, NV

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

271.8

363.1

+34% in Lincoln, NE

Property Crime

1,725.7

2,484.4

+44% in Lincoln, NE

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

69.4°F

51.5°F

+17.9°F in Henderson, NV

Annual Precipitation

4.2 in

30.9 in

+26.7 in in Lincoln, NE

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.09/gal

$3.94/gal

+23% in Henderson, NV

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

13.6

about equal

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$12.09

$15.53

+28% in Lincoln, NE

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.31

+10% in Henderson, NV

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.66

+19% in Henderson, NV

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$3.63

+66% in Lincoln, NE

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.77

+8% in Henderson, NV

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.10

+4% in Lincoln, NE

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Henderson, NV

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NV / NE)

6.85%

5.5%

+1.3 pp in NV

Income Tax (top rate)

None

4.55%

+4.5 pp in NE

Henderson vs Lincoln — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Henderson or Lincoln?: Lincoln, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 35% below Henderson, NV's $1,580, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Henderson than in Lincoln?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Henderson versus $35,000 in Lincoln.
Which has lower taxes, Henderson or Lincoln?: Henderson is taxed under Nevada's rules (no state income tax and a 6.85% 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).