Lincoln cost of living
Prices in the Lincoln, NE metro area run at 91.6 against a national average of 100, ranking it #256 of 387 metros. Rents there sit at 84.2.
What drives the number
Prices in Lincoln run at 91.6 where the national average is 100, so about 8.4 per cent below the country as a whole. It ranks #256 of 387 metro areas. Against Nebraska as a whole it is 1.5 points more expensive, which is the usual direction: cities cost more than the states around them.
The parts move together here rather than pulling against each other: goods at 94.1, rents at 84.2, other services at 76.8. That is less common than it sounds. In most places rents sit well away from the other two, and the overall figure is really a housing figure in disguise. Goods at 94.1 are themselves 5.9 points off national, which is a wide gap for a category that is mostly shipped in.
A salary here goes further than the same salary somewhere at 100. Divide by 91.6 and multiply by 100 to get the nationally comparable figure, and it will come out higher than the headline.
The vertical line is the national average of 100. Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities, SARPP, 2024.
What the biggest local jobs are really worth
The same pay buys different amounts in different places, so a salary quoted in Lincoln is not comparable to one quoted elsewhere until it is divided by the local parity. These are the occupations that employ the most people here, with the quoted median alongside what that median is worth at national prices.
| Occupation | Employed | Median pay | Worth nationally | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 5,450 | $29,340 | $32,031 | $30,480 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 4,700 | $92,890 | $101,408 | $57,440 |
| Registered Nurses | 4,190 | $84,460 | $92,205 | $93,600 |
| Retail Salespersons | 4,050 | $29,800 | $32,533 | $34,580 |
| General and Operations Managers | 3,970 | $86,880 | $94,847 | $102,950 |
| Cashiers | 3,420 | $29,640 | $32,358 | $31,190 |
| Customer Service Representatives | 2,920 | $38,130 | $41,627 | $42,830 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | 2,870 | $44,990 | $49,116 | $46,290 |
Pay from the BLS metro survey, adjusted by dividing by the metro parity of 91.6.
Nearby metro areas
| Metro area | All items | Rents | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha | 91.9 | 86.4 | #247 |
| Grand Island | 86.7 | 61.7 | #358 |
| Sioux City | 86.5 | 57.8 | #359 |
Lincoln: common questions
Is Lincoln expensive?
Prices are 8.4% below the national average, a parity of 91.6 where the country is 100. It ranks #256 of the 387 metro areas BEA measures. Against Nebraska as a whole it is 1.5 points more expensive.
What salary do you need in Lincoln?
The median worker there earns $48,860, which buys what $53,341 buys nationally once local prices are taken into account. Comparing a salary offer between cities without this adjustment is comparing nothing useful.
Is housing the reason?
Usually. Rents here are at 84.2 against goods at 94.1. Goods barely vary between American cities because most are shipped and priced nationally; housing varies enormously, and it dominates any cost of living comparison.