Living Cost Compare
Lincoln

Nebraska

$1,030/mo est.

vs
Naperville

Illinois

$1,830/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 $1,830 in Naperville, IL. Overall, Lincoln, NE is roughly 44% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Naperville, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $69,991 in Lincoln, NE and $150,937 in Naperville, IL — about 54% higher in Naperville, IL. Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Lincoln, NE
Naperville, IL

Rent

Studio
$851
$1,713
+101% in Naperville, IL
1 Bedroom
$879
$1,594
+81% in Naperville, IL
2 Bedroom
$1,070
$1,889
+77% in Naperville, IL
3 Bedroom
$1,379
$2,446
+77% in Naperville, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$248,200
$509,900
+105% in Naperville, IL

Income

Median Household Income
$69,991
$150,937
+116% in Naperville, IL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,800
$54,720
+10% in Naperville, IL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.4 yr
40.1 yr
+6.7 yr in Naperville, IL
Homeownership
55.8%
74.3%
+18.5 pp in Naperville, IL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
41.0%
71.7%
+30.7 pp in Naperville, IL
Avg Commute
18.3 min
31.4 min
+13.1 min in Naperville, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
363.1
85.7
+76% in Lincoln, NE
Property Crime
2,484.4
892.2
+64% 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
49.9°F
+1.6°F in Lincoln, NE
Annual Precipitation
30.9 in
36.9 in
+6.0 in in Naperville, IL

Gas

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

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
13.6
23.9
+75% in Naperville, IL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.53
$15.39
+1% in Lincoln, NE

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.66
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$3.63
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.77
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.10
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NE / IL)
5.5%
6.25%
+0.8 pp in IL
Income Tax (top rate)
4.55%
4.95%
+0.4 pp in IL

Lincoln vs Naperville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Lincoln or Naperville?
Lincoln, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 44% below Naperville, IL's $1,830, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Lincoln than in Naperville?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Lincoln versus $64,000 in Naperville.
Which has lower taxes, Lincoln or Naperville?
Lincoln is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Naperville under Illinois's (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% 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).