Living Cost Compare
Lincoln

Nebraska

$1,030/mo est.

vs
Louisville

Kentucky

$1,060/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,030 in Lincoln, NE versus $1,060 in Louisville, KY. Overall, Lincoln, NE is roughly 3% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Louisville, KY, driven mainly by natural gas costs.

Median household income is $69,991 in Lincoln, NE and $64,731 in Louisville, KY — about 8% higher in Lincoln, NE. Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Kentucky has a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax.

Lincoln, NE
Louisville, KY

Rent

Studio
$851
$786
+8% in Lincoln, NE
1 Bedroom
$879
$877
+0% in Lincoln, NE
2 Bedroom
$1,070
$1,096
+2% in Louisville, KY
3 Bedroom
$1,379
$1,299
+6% in Lincoln, NE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$248,200
$221,500
+11% in Lincoln, NE

Income

Median Household Income
$69,991
$64,731
+8% in Lincoln, NE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,800
$48,370
+3% in Lincoln, NE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.4 yr
37.7 yr
+4.3 yr in Louisville, KY
Homeownership
55.8%
60.6%
+4.8 pp in Louisville, KY
Bachelor's+ (25+)
41.0%
33.4%
+7.6 pp in Lincoln, NE
Avg Commute
18.3 min
22.7 min
+4.4 min in Louisville, KY

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
363.1
763.4
+110% in Louisville, KY
Property Crime
2,484.4
3,536.6
+42% in Louisville, KY

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
51.5°F
58.2°F
+6.7°F in Louisville, KY
Annual Precipitation
30.9 in
44.9 in
+14.0 in in Louisville, KY

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.94/gal
about equal

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.75

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
13.6
15.0
+10% in Louisville, KY
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.53
$29.48
+90% in Louisville, KY

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Lincoln, NE
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.75
+5% in Louisville, KY
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.21
+39% in Lincoln, NE
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.45
+5% in Lincoln, NE
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$1.90
+9% in Lincoln, NE
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NE / KY)
5.5%
6%
+0.5 pp in KY
Income Tax (top rate)
4.55%
3.50%
+1.0 pp in NE

Lincoln vs Louisville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Lincoln or Louisville?
Lincoln, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Louisville, KY's $1,060, mainly because of natural gas costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Lincoln than in Louisville?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Lincoln versus $35,000 in Louisville.
Which has lower taxes, Lincoln or Louisville?
Lincoln is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Louisville under Kentucky's (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% 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).