Living Cost Compare
Lincoln

Nebraska

$1,030/mo est.

vs
Springfield

Missouri

$940/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 $940 in Springfield, MO. Overall, Springfield, MO is roughly 9% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Lincoln, NE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $69,991 in Lincoln, NE and $45,984 in Springfield, MO — about 34% 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
Springfield, MO

Rent

Studio
$851
$760
+11% in Lincoln, NE
1 Bedroom
$879
$772
+12% in Lincoln, NE
2 Bedroom
$1,070
$926
+13% in Lincoln, NE
3 Bedroom
$1,379
$1,158
+16% in Lincoln, NE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$248,200
$165,200
+33% in Lincoln, NE

Income

Median Household Income
$69,991
$45,984
+34% in Lincoln, NE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,800
$45,780
+8% in Lincoln, NE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.4 yr
33.6 yr
+0.2 yr in Springfield, MO
Homeownership
55.8%
42.9%
+12.9 pp in Lincoln, NE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
41.0%
30.3%
+10.7 pp in Lincoln, NE
Avg Commute
18.3 min
18.0 min
+0.3 min in Lincoln, NE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
363.1
1,189.8
+228% in Springfield, MO
Property Crime
2,484.4
4,231.6
+70% in Springfield, 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
56.3°F
+4.8°F in Springfield, MO
Annual Precipitation
30.9 in
45.6 in
+14.7 in in Springfield, 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 Springfield, MO
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.53
$24.13
+55% in Springfield, 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 Springfield — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Lincoln or Springfield?
Springfield, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below Lincoln, NE's $1,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Lincoln than in Springfield?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Lincoln versus $31,000 in Springfield.
Which has lower taxes, Lincoln or Springfield?
Lincoln is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Springfield 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).