Is it cheaper to live in Lincoln or Missoula?

Lincoln, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Missoula, MT's $1,100, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Lincoln versus $38,000 in Missoula.

Which has lower taxes, Lincoln or Missoula?

Lincoln is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Missoula under Montana's (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax).

Lincoln vs Missoula Cost of Living 2026

Lincoln

Nebraska

$1,030/mo est.

Missoula

Montana

$1,100/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 $1,100 in Missoula, MT. Overall, Lincoln, NE is roughly 6% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Missoula, MT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $69,991 in Lincoln, NE and $65,329 in Missoula, MT — about 7% higher in Lincoln, NE. Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax.

Lincoln, NE

Missoula, MT

Rent

Studio

$851

$755

+11% in Lincoln, NE

1 Bedroom

$879

$953

+8% in Missoula, MT

2 Bedroom

$1,070

$1,176

+10% in Missoula, MT

3 Bedroom

$1,379

$1,676

+22% in Missoula, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$248,200

$427,400

+72% in Missoula, MT

Income

Median Household Income

$69,991

$65,329

+7% in Lincoln, NE

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,800

$47,830

+4% in Lincoln, NE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.4 yr

34.3 yr

+0.9 yr in Missoula, MT

Homeownership

55.8%

47.8%

+8.0 pp in Lincoln, NE

Bachelor's+ (25+)

41.0%

51.7%

+10.7 pp in Missoula, MT

Avg Commute

18.3 min

16.6 min

+1.7 min in Lincoln, NE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

363.1

601.9

+66% in Missoula, MT

Property Crime

2,484.4

3,685.2

+48% in Missoula, MT

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

45.9°F

+5.6°F in Lincoln, NE

Annual Precipitation

30.9 in

14.1 in

+16.7 in in Lincoln, NE

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$4.27/gal

+11% in Missoula, MT

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

13.3

15.1

+14% in Missoula, MT

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$20.10

$10.12

+50% in Lincoln, NE

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Missoula, MT

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$2.04

+23% in Missoula, MT

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Lincoln, NE

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in Missoula, MT

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Lincoln, NE

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Missoula, MT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NE / MT)

5.5%

None

+5.5 pp in NE

Income Tax (top rate)

4.55%

5.65%

+1.1 pp in MT

Lincoln vs Missoula — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Lincoln or Missoula?: Lincoln, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Missoula, MT's $1,100, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Lincoln than in Missoula?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Lincoln versus $38,000 in Missoula.
Which has lower taxes, Lincoln or Missoula?: Lincoln is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Missoula under Montana's (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no 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).