Is it cheaper to live in Lincoln or Wilmington?

Lincoln, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Wilmington, DE's $1,230, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Lincoln versus $41,000 in Wilmington.

Which has lower taxes, Lincoln or Wilmington?

Lincoln is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Wilmington under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax).

Lincoln vs Wilmington Cost of Living 2026

Lincoln

Nebraska

$1,030/mo est.

Wilmington

Delaware

$1,230/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 $1,230 in Wilmington, DE. Overall, Lincoln, NE is roughly 16% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Wilmington, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $69,991 in Lincoln, NE and $55,269 in Wilmington, DE — about 21% higher in Lincoln, NE. Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Lincoln, NE

Wilmington, DE

Rent

Studio

$851

$1,103

+30% in Wilmington, DE

1 Bedroom

$879

$1,024

+16% in Wilmington, DE

2 Bedroom

$1,070

$1,213

+13% in Wilmington, DE

3 Bedroom

$1,379

$1,394

+1% in Wilmington, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$248,200

$224,500

+10% in Lincoln, NE

Income

Median Household Income

$69,991

$55,269

+21% in Lincoln, NE

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,800

$54,310

+9% in Wilmington, DE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.4 yr

37.0 yr

+3.6 yr in Wilmington, DE

Homeownership

55.8%

46.0%

+9.8 pp in Lincoln, NE

Bachelor's+ (25+)

41.0%

33.1%

+7.9 pp in Lincoln, NE

Avg Commute

18.3 min

23.0 min

+4.7 min in Wilmington, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

363.1

1,138.2

+213% in Wilmington, DE

Property Crime

2,484.4

3,182.4

+28% in Wilmington, DE

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

54.9°F

+3.4°F in Wilmington, DE

Annual Precipitation

30.9 in

43.1 in

+12.2 in in Wilmington, DE

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.86/gal

+2% in Lincoln, NE

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

13.6

19.4

+43% in Wilmington, DE

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.53

$22.51

+45% in Wilmington, DE

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.00

+7% in Lincoln, NE

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$1.75

+5% in Wilmington, DE

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.21

+39% in Lincoln, NE

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$6.45

+5% in Lincoln, NE

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$1.90

+9% in Lincoln, NE

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NE / DE)

5.5%

None

+5.5 pp in NE

Income Tax (top rate)

4.55%

6.60%

+2.0 pp in DE

Lincoln vs Wilmington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Lincoln or Wilmington?: Lincoln, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Wilmington, DE's $1,230, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Lincoln than in Wilmington?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Lincoln versus $41,000 in Wilmington.
Which has lower taxes, Lincoln or Wilmington?: Lincoln is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Wilmington under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% 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).