Living Cost Compare
Lincoln

Nebraska

$1,030/mo est.

vs
New Haven

Connecticut

$1,530/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 $1,530 in New Haven, CT. Overall, Lincoln, NE is roughly 33% cheaper to live in day-to-day than New Haven, CT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $69,991 in Lincoln, NE and $53,771 in New Haven, CT — about 23% higher in Lincoln, NE. Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax.

Lincoln, NE
New Haven, CT

Rent

Studio
$851
$1,159
+36% in New Haven, CT
1 Bedroom
$879
$1,275
+45% in New Haven, CT
2 Bedroom
$1,070
$1,473
+38% in New Haven, CT
3 Bedroom
$1,379
$1,636
+19% in New Haven, CT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$248,200
$249,000
+0% in New Haven, CT

Income

Median Household Income
$69,991
$53,771
+23% in Lincoln, NE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,800
$60,060
+21% in New Haven, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.4 yr
31.9 yr
+1.5 yr in Lincoln, NE
Homeownership
55.8%
28.4%
+27.4 pp in Lincoln, NE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
41.0%
37.7%
+3.3 pp in Lincoln, NE
Avg Commute
18.3 min
21.0 min
+2.7 min in New Haven, CT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
363.1
536.3
+48% in New Haven, CT
Property Crime
2,484.4
3,601.6
+45% in New Haven, CT

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
52.2°F
+0.7°F in New Haven, CT
Annual Precipitation
30.9 in
47.1 in
+16.3 in in New Haven, CT

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in New Haven, CT

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
13.3
24.3
+84% in New Haven, CT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.10
$23.33
+16% in New Haven, CT

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.92
+16% in New Haven, CT
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Lincoln, NE
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.90
+2% in New Haven, CT
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.19
+4% in New Haven, CT
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in New Haven, CT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NE / CT)
5.5%
6.35%
+0.8 pp in CT
Income Tax (top rate)
4.55%
6.99%
+2.4 pp in CT

Lincoln vs New Haven — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Lincoln or New Haven?
Lincoln, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 33% below New Haven, CT's $1,530, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Lincoln than in New Haven?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Lincoln versus $51,000 in New Haven.
Which has lower taxes, Lincoln or New Haven?
Lincoln is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax); New Haven under Connecticut's (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% 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).