Fairbury, NE vs Gretna, NE

The cost of living difference between Fairbury, NE and Gretna, NE is dramatic. Fairbury is 42.6% cheaper than Gretna, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Fairbury has a cost index of 60 while Gretna sits at 104, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Fairbury is $666/month compared to $1,467/month in Gretna — a 55% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Fairbury is more affordable at $90,800 median vs $326,000.

Median household income in Fairbury is $51,782 compared to $118,765 in Gretna (-56.4%). While Gretna is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Fairbury spend roughly 15.4% of their income on rent, more than the 14.8% in Gretna.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (51.5°F vs 52.4°F). Gretna receives more rainfall at 31.9" per year compared to 29.5" in Fairbury.