Is it cheaper to live in Lincoln or Salem?

Lincoln, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below Salem, OR's $1,170, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Lincoln than in Salem?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Lincoln versus $40,000 in Salem.

Which has lower taxes, Lincoln or Salem?

Lincoln is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Salem under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax).

Lincoln vs Salem Cost of Living 2026

Lincoln

Nebraska

$1,030/mo est.

Salem

Oregon

$1,170/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 $1,170 in Salem, OR. Overall, Lincoln, NE is roughly 12% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Salem, OR, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $69,991 in Lincoln, NE and $71,900 in Salem, OR — about 3% higher in Salem, OR. Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax.

Lincoln, NE

Salem, OR

Rent

Studio

$851

$1,075

+26% in Salem, OR

1 Bedroom

$879

$989

+13% in Salem, OR

2 Bedroom

$1,070

$1,337

+25% in Salem, OR

3 Bedroom

$1,379

$1,778

+29% in Salem, OR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$248,200

$382,400

+54% in Salem, OR

Income

Median Household Income

$69,991

$71,900

+3% in Salem, OR

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,800

$55,310

+11% in Salem, OR

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.4 yr

35.7 yr

+2.3 yr in Salem, OR

Homeownership

55.8%

55.7%

+0.1 pp in Lincoln, NE

Bachelor's+ (25+)

41.0%

31.4%

+9.6 pp in Lincoln, NE

Avg Commute

18.3 min

22.4 min

+4.1 min in Salem, OR

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

363.1

540.6

+49% in Salem, OR

Property Crime

2,484.4

2,878.6

+16% in Salem, OR

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

53.0°F

+1.5°F in Salem, OR

Annual Precipitation

30.9 in

39.7 in

+8.8 in in Salem, OR

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$5.09/gal

+29% in Salem, OR

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

13.6

16.3

+20% in Salem, OR

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.53

$20.59

+33% in Salem, OR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Salem, OR

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$2.04

+23% in Salem, OR

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Lincoln, NE

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in Salem, OR

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Lincoln, NE

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Salem, OR

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NE / OR)

5.5%

None

+5.5 pp in NE

Income Tax (top rate)

4.55%

9.90%

+5.4 pp in OR

Lincoln vs Salem — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Lincoln or Salem?: Lincoln, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below Salem, OR's $1,170, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Lincoln than in Salem?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Lincoln versus $40,000 in Salem.
Which has lower taxes, Lincoln or Salem?: Lincoln is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Salem under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no 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).