Roca, NE vs Wauneta, NE

The cost of living difference between Roca, NE and Wauneta, NE is dramatic. Wauneta is 37.8% cheaper than Roca, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Roca has a cost index of 80 while Wauneta sits at 58, 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 Roca is $1,075/month compared to $642/month in Wauneta — a 67% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Wauneta is more affordable at $86,300 median vs $191,700.

Median household income in Roca is $90,500 compared to $46,518 in Wauneta (+94.5%). While Roca is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Roca spend roughly 14.3% of their income on rent, less than the 16.6% in Wauneta.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (51.5°F vs 51.3°F). Roca receives more rainfall at 29.5" per year compared to 17.5" in Wauneta.