Cost of Living in Nebraska (NE)
Compare costs across 2 Nebraska cities. From home services to salaries, see how NE stacks up against the national average.
2
Cities
91
Avg Cost Index
$59K
Avg Income
Direct Answer
Nebraska's average cost index is 91, which is below the national baseline of 100. Omaha is the most affordable tracked city in NE at index 90, while Lincoln is the most expensive at index 91.
The gap between the cheapest and most expensive tracked cities is 1 index points, so state-level averages should be used as a map, not a final budget.
State cost overviewBLS, Census, HUD inputsLast verified May 2026
Nebraska Highlights: Most affordable city: Omaha (index 90). Most expensive: Lincoln (index 91). The gap between cheapest and most expensive is 1 index points.
What Drives the Statewide Cost Picture?
Average index
91/100
Nebraska is below the national cost baseline across tracked cities.
Cheapest city
Omaha
Omaha has a cost index of 90.
Most expensive
Lincoln
Lincoln has a cost index of 91.
Income average
$59K
Average median household income across 2 tracked NE cities.
Cheapest and Most Expensive Cities in Nebraska
Nebraska State Taxes (2026)
Headline tax rates that affect your real take-home pay and total cost of living in Nebraska.
State Income Tax
2.46-5.84%
progressive system
Combined Sales Tax
6.94%
5.5% state + 1.44% avg local
Property Tax (Effective)
1.61%
~$4,830/yr on a $300K home
Income tax: Nebraska uses a progressive income tax at 2.46-5.84%. No state estate tax. Estimate your take-home pay
State Planning Checklist
- Start with Omaha if the priority is lowest recurring cost inside Nebraska.
- Compare Lincoln against salary and tax advantages before assuming the higher-cost city is worse.
- Use city pages for rent, salary, insurance, and local service costs before making a relocation decision.