Is it cheaper to live in Lincoln or Mesa?

Lincoln, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 29% below Mesa, AZ's $1,460, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Lincoln versus $52,000 in Mesa.

Which has lower taxes, Lincoln or Mesa?

Lincoln is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Mesa under Arizona's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax).

Lincoln vs Mesa Cost of Living 2026

Lincoln

Nebraska

$1,030/mo est.

Mesa

Arizona

$1,460/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 $1,460 in Mesa, AZ. Overall, Lincoln, NE is roughly 29% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Mesa, AZ, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $69,991 in Lincoln, NE and $78,779 in Mesa, AZ — about 11% higher in Mesa, AZ. Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Arizona has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax.

Lincoln, NE

Mesa, AZ

Rent

Studio

$851

$1,209

+42% in Mesa, AZ

1 Bedroom

$879

$1,288

+47% in Mesa, AZ

2 Bedroom

$1,070

$1,458

+36% in Mesa, AZ

3 Bedroom

$1,379

$1,819

+32% in Mesa, AZ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$248,200

$364,300

+47% in Mesa, AZ

Income

Median Household Income

$69,991

$78,779

+13% in Mesa, AZ

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,800

$51,380

+3% in Mesa, AZ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.4 yr

37.2 yr

+3.8 yr in Mesa, AZ

Homeownership

55.8%

64.4%

+8.6 pp in Mesa, AZ

Bachelor's+ (25+)

41.0%

31.5%

+9.5 pp in Lincoln, NE

Avg Commute

18.3 min

25.0 min

+6.7 min in Mesa, AZ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

363.1

486.2

+34% in Mesa, AZ

Property Crime

2,484.4

1,488

+40% 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

51.5°F

75.1°F

+23.6°F in Mesa, AZ

Annual Precipitation

30.9 in

8.0 in

+22.8 in in Lincoln, NE

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$5.09/gal

+29% in Mesa, AZ

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

13.6

15.2

+12% in Mesa, AZ

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.53

$22.44

+44% in Mesa, AZ

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Mesa, AZ

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$2.04

+23% in Mesa, AZ

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Lincoln, NE

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in Mesa, AZ

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Lincoln, NE

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Mesa, AZ

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NE / AZ)

5.5%

5.6%

+0.1 pp in AZ

Income Tax (top rate)

4.55%

2.50%

+2.0 pp in NE

Lincoln vs Mesa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Lincoln or Mesa?: Lincoln, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 29% below Mesa, AZ's $1,460, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Lincoln than in Mesa?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Lincoln versus $52,000 in Mesa.
Which has lower taxes, Lincoln or Mesa?: Lincoln is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Mesa under Arizona's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% 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).