Living Cost Compare
Lincoln

Nebraska

$1,030/mo est.

vs
Philadelphia

Pennsylvania

$1,410/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 $1,410 in Philadelphia, PA. Overall, Lincoln, NE is roughly 27% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Philadelphia, PA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $69,991 in Lincoln, NE and $60,698 in Philadelphia, PA — about 13% higher in Lincoln, NE. Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax.

Lincoln, NE
Philadelphia, PA

Rent

Studio
$851
$1,126
+32% in Philadelphia, PA
1 Bedroom
$879
$1,189
+35% in Philadelphia, PA
2 Bedroom
$1,070
$1,394
+30% in Philadelphia, PA
3 Bedroom
$1,379
$1,406
+2% in Philadelphia, PA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$248,200
$232,400
+6% in Lincoln, NE

Income

Median Household Income
$69,991
$60,698
+13% in Lincoln, NE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,800
$54,310
+9% in Philadelphia, PA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.4 yr
35.1 yr
+1.7 yr in Philadelphia, PA
Homeownership
55.8%
52.3%
+3.5 pp in Lincoln, NE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
41.0%
34.6%
+6.4 pp in Lincoln, NE
Avg Commute
18.3 min
32.0 min
+13.7 min in Philadelphia, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
363.1
917.1
+153% in Philadelphia, PA
Property Crime
2,484.4
4,615.3
+86% in Philadelphia, PA

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
57.1°F
+5.6°F in Philadelphia, PA
Annual Precipitation
30.9 in
48.5 in
+17.6 in in Philadelphia, PA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.86/gal
+2% in Lincoln, NE

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.50

Adult base one-way fare — — vs SEPTA (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
13.6
21.6
+59% in Philadelphia, PA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.53
$19.17
+23% in Philadelphia, PA

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 Philadelphia, PA
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Lincoln, NE
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.90
+2% in Philadelphia, PA
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.19
+4% in Philadelphia, PA
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in Philadelphia, PA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NE / PA)
5.5%
6%
+0.5 pp in PA
Income Tax (top rate)
4.55%
3.07%
+1.5 pp in NE

Lincoln vs Philadelphia — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Lincoln or Philadelphia?
Lincoln, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 27% below Philadelphia, PA's $1,410, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Lincoln than in Philadelphia?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Lincoln versus $48,000 in Philadelphia.
Which has lower taxes, Lincoln or Philadelphia?
Lincoln is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Philadelphia under Pennsylvania's (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% 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).