Living Cost Compare
Lincoln

Nebraska

$1,030/mo est.

vs
St. Louis

Missouri

$1,030/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 $1,030 in St. Louis, MO. The two are close overall, within a few percent of each other.

Median household income is $69,991 in Lincoln, NE and $55,279 in St. Louis, MO — about 21% higher in Lincoln, NE. Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax.

Lincoln, NE
St. Louis, MO

Rent

Studio
$851
$864
+2% in St. Louis, MO
1 Bedroom
$879
$866
+1% in Lincoln, NE
2 Bedroom
$1,070
$1,109
+4% in St. Louis, MO
3 Bedroom
$1,379
$1,135
+18% in Lincoln, NE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$248,200
$185,100
+25% in Lincoln, NE

Income

Median Household Income
$69,991
$55,279
+21% in Lincoln, NE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,800
$49,990
+0% in St. Louis, MO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.4 yr
36.6 yr
+3.2 yr in St. Louis, MO
Homeownership
55.8%
45.4%
+10.4 pp in Lincoln, NE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
41.0%
40.2%
+0.8 pp in Lincoln, NE
Avg Commute
18.3 min
22.2 min
+3.9 min in St. Louis, MO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
363.1
1,372.9
+278% in St. Louis, MO
Property Crime
2,484.4
5,794.9
+133% in St. Louis, MO

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
55.7°F
+4.2°F in St. Louis, MO
Annual Precipitation
30.9 in
40.9 in
+10.1 in in St. Louis, MO

Gas

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

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
13.6
13.7
+1% in St. Louis, MO
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.53
$24.13
+55% in St. Louis, MO

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 / MO)
5.5%
4.225%
+1.3 pp in NE
Income Tax (top rate)
4.55%
4.70%
+0.2 pp in MO

Lincoln vs St. Louis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Lincoln or St. Louis?
They're close. Lincoln, NE runs about $1,030 a month and St. Louis, MO about $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) — within a few percent of each other.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Lincoln than in St. Louis?
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 St. Louis.
Which has lower taxes, Lincoln or St. Louis?
Lincoln is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax); St. Louis under Missouri's (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% 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).