Living Cost Compare
Lincoln

Nebraska

$1,030/mo est.

vs
Oklahoma City

Oklahoma

$1,050/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 $1,050 in Oklahoma City, OK. Overall, Lincoln, NE is roughly 2% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Oklahoma City, OK, driven mainly by natural gas costs.

Median household income is $69,991 in Lincoln, NE and $66,702 in Oklahoma City, OK — about 5% higher in Lincoln, NE. Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax.

Lincoln, NE
Oklahoma City, OK

Rent

Studio
$851
$795
+7% in Lincoln, NE
1 Bedroom
$879
$882
+0% in Oklahoma City, OK
2 Bedroom
$1,070
$1,085
+1% in Oklahoma City, OK
3 Bedroom
$1,379
$1,356
+2% in Lincoln, NE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$248,200
$215,100
+13% in Lincoln, NE

Income

Median Household Income
$69,991
$66,702
+5% in Lincoln, NE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,800
$47,230
+5% in Lincoln, NE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.4 yr
35.0 yr
+1.6 yr in Oklahoma City, OK
Homeownership
55.8%
59.1%
+3.3 pp in Oklahoma City, OK
Bachelor's+ (25+)
41.0%
34.0%
+7.0 pp in Lincoln, NE
Avg Commute
18.3 min
22.2 min
+3.9 min in Oklahoma City, OK

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
363.1
685.9
+89% in Oklahoma City, OK
Property Crime
2,484.4
2,929.1
+18% in Oklahoma City, OK

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
61.5°F
+10.0°F in Oklahoma City, OK
Annual Precipitation
30.9 in
36.5 in
+5.7 in in Oklahoma City, OK

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 EMBARK (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
13.6
13.4
+2% in Lincoln, NE
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.53
$27.15
+75% in Oklahoma City, OK

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 Oklahoma City, OK
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 / OK)
5.5%
4.5%
+1.0 pp in NE
Income Tax (top rate)
4.55%
4.50%
+0.0 pp in NE

Lincoln vs Oklahoma City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Lincoln or Oklahoma City?
Lincoln, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Oklahoma City, OK's $1,050, mainly because of natural gas costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Lincoln than in Oklahoma City?
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 Oklahoma City.
Which has lower taxes, Lincoln or Oklahoma City?
Lincoln is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Oklahoma City under Oklahoma's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% 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).