Living Cost Compare
Lincoln

Nebraska

$1,030/mo est.

vs
Omaha

Nebraska

$1,130/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 $1,130 in Omaha, NE. Overall, Lincoln, NE is roughly 9% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Omaha, NE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $69,991 in Lincoln, NE and $72,708 in Omaha, NE — about 4% higher in Omaha, NE. Both cities are in Nebraska, so state taxes are identical: a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Lincoln, NE
Omaha, NE

Rent

Studio
$851
$908
+7% in Omaha, NE
1 Bedroom
$879
$984
+12% in Omaha, NE
2 Bedroom
$1,070
$1,193
+11% in Omaha, NE
3 Bedroom
$1,379
$1,437
+4% in Omaha, NE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$248,200
$230,100
+7% in Lincoln, NE

Income

Median Household Income
$69,991
$72,708
+4% in Omaha, NE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,800
$49,660
+0% in Lincoln, NE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.4 yr
35.3 yr
+1.9 yr in Omaha, NE
Homeownership
55.8%
57.7%
+1.9 pp in Omaha, NE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
41.0%
40.3%
+0.7 pp in Lincoln, NE
Avg Commute
18.3 min
19.6 min
+1.3 min in Omaha, NE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
363.1
359
+1% in Lincoln, NE
Property Crime
2,484.4
3,153.5
+27% in Omaha, 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
51.1°F
+0.4°F in Lincoln, NE
Annual Precipitation
30.9 in
30.6 in
+0.2 in in Lincoln, NE

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)
—
$1.25

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
13.6
13.6
about equal
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.53
$15.53
about equal

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 / NE)
5.5%
5.5%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
4.55%
4.55%
about equal

Lincoln vs Omaha — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Lincoln or Omaha?
Lincoln, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below Omaha, NE's $1,130, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Lincoln than in Omaha?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Lincoln versus $39,000 in Omaha.
Which has lower taxes, Lincoln or Omaha?
Neither — both are in Nebraska, so they share the same state tax rates: a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% 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).