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Cost of Living in Nebraska

529 cities | Population: 1,583,902

72
Average Cost of Living Index (US = 100)
Median Income: $65,895

Cost of Living in Nebraska: Overview

Nebraska has a cost of living index of 72, making it 28% less expensive than the national average. The statewide median household income is $65,895 (12% below the US median of $75,149). Across 529 cities tracked in Nebraska, costs vary widely depending on location, proximity to metro areas, and local housing markets.

Housing drives most of the variation. The average median rent across Nebraska cities is $812/mo (38% below the national median of $1,319), and the average median home value is $125,548 (59% below the national figure of $304,900). There is a 37-point spread between the most affordable city, McCook (index 67), and the most expensive, Offutt AFB (index 104) — a moderate range typical of states with a mix of urban and rural areas.

When evaluating Nebraska, it helps to look beyond the state average. Individual city costs can deviate significantly — use the map and rankings below to compare specific locations.

The largest cities in Nebraska by population are Omaha (index 86, pop. 488,197), Lincoln (index 84, pop. 291,932), Bellevue (index 88, pop. 64,355), Grand Island (index 75, pop. 52,761), and Kearney (index 79, pop. 34,024). All of these major cities are above the state average, a pattern common in states where metro areas drive up costs relative to rural communities.

Data: US Census Bureau (ACS 2023), Zillow, HUD, BEA Regional Price Parities. Updated monthly.

Cost of Living Map

Top 117 cities by population. Click a marker for details.

All Cities in Nebraska (529)

City Population Cost Index Median Income
Omaha 488,197 86 $72,708
Lincoln 291,932 84 $69,991
Bellevue 64,355 88 $87,343
Grand Island 52,761 75 $62,439
Kearney 34,024 79 $69,790
Fremont 27,321 79 $67,179
Norfolk 25,962 74 $62,175
Hastings 25,005 71 $61,202
Columbus 24,188 75 $67,212
Papillion 24,063 93 $109,602
North Platte 23,030 72 $57,805
La Vista 16,594 91 $78,145
Scottsbluff 14,406 73 $53,448
South Sioux City 13,871 77 $68,397
Beatrice 12,233 67 $54,583
Lexington 10,693 73 $62,364
Chalco 10,625 84 $81,427
Gretna 9,117 104 $118,765
Gering 8,567 71 $70,244
York 8,114 73 $62,632
Alliance 8,089 67 $65,599
Blair 7,868 78 $76,292
Seward 7,665 81 $70,000
Crete 7,521 75 $76,258
McCook 7,360 67 $51,815
Nebraska City 7,287 72 $67,993
Plattsmouth 6,680 75 $64,296
Schuyler 6,517 72 $78,380
Ralston 6,445 86 $65,557
Sidney 6,396 71 $51,704
Wayne 6,055 70 $52,804
Offutt AFB 5,663 104 $67,803
Holdrege 5,503 68 $55,263
Chadron 5,207 76 $54,026
Wahoo 4,885 79 $81,544
Ogallala 4,800 65 $55,481
Aurora 4,665 73 $71,051
Waverly 4,363 85 $110,000
Falls City 4,099 61 $45,750
Cozad 3,944 66 $50,161
Fairbury 3,905 60 $51,782
O'Neill 3,574 64 $66,458
Broken Bow 3,524 67 $56,438
West Point 3,479 72 $63,977
Auburn 3,468 63 $58,674
Gothenburg 3,436 71 $79,519
Valley 3,113 107 $106,750
Ashland 3,083 79 $80,948
Central City 3,039 66 $62,012
Minden 3,020 71 $64,846
David City 3,013 67 $66,585
Dakota City 2,980 77 $80,433
Hickman 2,834 96 $104,219
Milford 2,656 78 $80,997
Valentine 2,632 69 $53,438
St. Paul 2,574 67 $58,493
Bennington 2,417 101 $98,375
Geneva 2,214 67 $79,750
Beaver Lake 2,198 103 $136,364
Ord 2,186 60 $53,274
Imperial 2,182 78 $71,667
Wilber 2,178 70 $80,227
Kimball 2,153 66 $57,153
Madison 2,074 66 $56,932
Pierce 1,986 72 $64,167
Syracuse 1,964 67 $70,625
Tecumseh 1,844 66 $46,127
Superior 1,833 56 $61,852
Stanton 1,824 69 $73,571
Mitchell 1,804 72 $50,250
Hartington 1,736 66 $78,304
Albion 1,733 71 $70,761
Tekamah 1,691 62 $54,139
Woodland Park 1,648 71 $77,880
Gordon 1,646 60 $58,906
Gibbon 1,643 65 $69,762
Hebron 1,641 64 $61,207
Neligh 1,636 70 $60,000
Ainsworth 1,632 66 $51,667
Springfield 1,620 86 $92,153
Oakland 1,572 64 $66,202
Yutan 1,535 91 $89,531
Bayard 1,509 57 $61,818
Battle Creek 1,478 81 $93,750
Fullerton 1,463 64 $54,375
Arlington 1,437 84 $95,278
Wisner 1,436 68 $66,875
Atkinson 1,433 64 $72,857
Wood River 1,426 66 $76,591
Bridgeport 1,403 62 $59,643
Louisville 1,393 84 $97,115
Grant 1,392 73 $70,000
Buccaneer Bay 1,361 98 $140,517
Ceresco 1,355 80 $103,906
Shelton 1,354 74 $75,781
Ravenna 1,352 70 $64,844
Sutton 1,349 70 $80,714
Wakefield 1,288 65 $57,500
Wymore 1,287 57 $56,051
Pender 1,262 72 $67,419
Fort Calhoun 1,246 87 $96,071
Weeping Water 1,244 74 $67,083
Plainview 1,241 64 $56,100
North Bend 1,225 82 $84,345
Sutherland 1,224 64 $73,750
Creighton 1,199 63 $53,167
Alma 1,176 71 $68,333
Bennet 1,174 92 $100,417
Elm Creek 1,146 71 $75,625
Cairo 1,117 70 $55,179
Utica 1,092 72 $81,797
Eagle 1,089 68 $76,500
Friend 1,085 71 $84,861
Hooper 1,078 71 $75,800
Cambridge 1,036 63 $60,066
Burwell 1,020 57 $64,821
Arapahoe 1,010 80 $63,173
Stromsburg 1,007 70 $61,182
Harvard 1,001 62 $67,813
Red Cloud 991 54 $50,536
Loup City 988 66 $50,625
Tilden 977 61 $66,731
Crawford 957 56 $58,438
Waterloo 950 84 $75,417
Laurel 947 66 $56,250
Benkelman 946 56 $42,500
Newman Grove 934 60 $57,000
Pawnee City 930 55 $38,611
Crofton 920 55 $80,000
Henderson 918 84 $76,538
Emerson 912 60 $58,125
Doniphan 910 71 $77,250
Franklin 908 54 $51,121
Randolph 903 63 $76,591
Rushville 890 62 $49,250
Walthill 889 60 $63,702
Arnold 887 67 $63,214
Bloomfield 870 60 $58,500
Osceola 867 62 $85,673
Morrill 852 82 $41,848
Winnebago 852 54 $39,044
Kenesaw 850 67 $89,063
Chappell 843 61 $54,758
Macy 795 77 $29,219
Blue Hill 794 67 $62,273
Genoa 788 65 $62,604
Humboldt 780 52 $45,500
Oshkosh 775 62 $40,865
Beemer 772 60 $65,250
Deshler 772 53 $60,000
Elmwood 765 72 $81,250
Boys Town 763 91 $72,000
Curtis 761 58 $52,500
Cedar Bluffs 760 78 $82,031
Lyons 751 62 $38,333
Clay Center 750 63 $75,833
Axtell 744 81 $64,196
Hemingford 744 66 $64,356
McCool Junction 740 69 $115,833
Scribner 735 69 $54,500
Minatare 731 78 $45,938
Terrytown 730 64 $43,750
Oxford 724 67 $49,539
Shelby 709 57 $75,795
Ponca 707 63 $53,077
Humphrey 701 71 $69,732
Peru 691 54 $41,875
Sterling 685 66 $72,083
Juniata 684 66 $54,722
Bertrand 684 63 $72,266
Osmond 681 63 $69,659
Overton 676 64 $56,625
Hershey 671 66 $79,375
Hay Springs 659 60 $45,833
Duncan 650 70 $58,875
Paxton 643 67 $73,750
Palmyra 642 80 $81,458
Culbertson 635 62 $47,361
Cortland 629 75 $68,250
Walton 624 112 $48,725
Dorchester 622 62 $59,583
Bassett 622 58 $42,125
Elgin 620 60 $53,661
Clarkson 609 54 $64,219
Callaway 608 63 $50,938
Ansley 605 69 $70,694
Howells 602 57 $72,188
Mead 600 77 $73,500
Edgar 591 56 $50,938
Bancroft 590 65 $46,563
Wausa 587 63 $68,125
St. Edward 586 62 $52,132
Alda 585 70 $50,000
Fairmont 584 56 $67,404
Verdigre 576 56 $41,250
Inglewood 574 77 $64,722
Nickerson 572 68 $117,500
Pleasanton 554 77 $68,194
Stuart 553 63 $72,386
Valparaiso 553 70 $72,750
Decatur 552 51 $49,028
Elwood 535 68 $68,500
Coleridge 531 56 $50,417
Winside 520 67 $66,429
Firth 517 81 $89,044
Wauneta 515 58 $46,518
Adams 513 74 $82,917
Greenwood 511 81 $99,000
Exeter 505 70 $63,000
Beaver City 494 55 $40,625
Hampton 493 73 $80,208
Giltner 491 73 $75,833
Cedar Rapids 484 60 $50,125
Big Springs 479 59 $63,750
Nelson 478 57 $54,408
Dalton 470 66 $65,000
Trenton 468 57 $47,500
Indianola 460 58 $49,615
Bellwood 460 64 $70,795
Brady 456 73 $78,393
Leigh 451 59 $68,068
Murray 449 78 $69,583
Dodge 448 56 $60,000
Allen 447 60 $53,125
Lakeview 446 91 $133,265
Palmer 446 63 $54,861
Hildreth 444 61 $57,500
Greeley Center 434 59 $45,625
Malcolm 428 79 $84,712
Eustis 427 71 $91,750
De Witt 426 59 $82,292
Sargent 425 55 $46,250
Petersburg 423 69 $73,750
Mullen 419 56 $45,610
Chambers 418 63 $54,167
Cedar Creek 415 103 $115,781
Scotia 412 55 $51,250
Bartley 396 67 $61,875
Homer 392 63 $88,125
Kennard 392 80 $97,604
Spalding 389 59 $54,250
Ewing 386 58 $59,417
Merna 380 74 $73,500
Sumner 379 66 $66,875
Bradshaw 377 69 $70,919
Shickley 376 72 $78,125
Phillips 376 64 $78,750
Plymouth 367 67 $54,375
Lyman 366 61 $52,621
Prague 366 80 $92,857
Niobrara 365 57 $38,977
Cook 361 56 $65,313
Butte 357 56 $52,500
Glenvil 356 62 $55,625
Herman 355 52 $77,869
Oakdale 351 63 $58,750
Stapleton 349 65 $66,875
Arcadia 347 58 $82,273
Long Pine 347 59 $38,750
Orchard 346 64 $48,281
Snyder 345 65 $80,625
Silver Creek 341 62 $57,321
Loomis 341 72 $71,750
Unadilla 340 73 $67,500
Fairfield 339 64 $59,500
Stratton 337 56 $33,611
Clarks 337 66 $55,625
Orleans 335 52 $60,000
Polk 331 78 $53,182
Wilcox 331 64 $75,357
Benedict 330 61 $60,938
Newcastle 329 60 $76,250
Platte Center 327 71 $74,833
Table Rock 327 55 $52,500
Chapman 325 87 $89,000
Beaver Crossing 324 72 $65,357
Palisade 321 60 $57,159
Hadar 320 80 $75,521
Clatonia 311 68 $60,750
St. Libory 311 83 $82,857
Johnson 311 59 $58,646
Davenport 299 59 $68,333
Lindsay 298 67 $77,500
Spencer 298 60 $55,469
Staplehurst 295 66 $80,379
Guide Rock 295 76 $44,286
Hallam 292 83 $96,250
Riverdale 291 77 $81,000
Carroll 289 66 $56,563
Pilger 288 58 $63,125
Litchfield 287 60 $58,438
Brule 287 59 $47,404
Weston 287 78 $64,375
Trumbull 286 76 $112,708
Potter 285 72 $62,083
Milligan 284 60 $55,000
Jackson 281 87 $84,063
Bee 281 69 $95,250
Brainard 279 66 $73,750
Roseland 277 65 $70,938
Wolbach 274 51 $48,438
Chester 274 64 $54,875
Amherst 273 66 $67,917
Hoskins 272 84 $77,500
Wallace 272 62 $55,625
Campbell 271 61 $66,000
Rising City 270 58 $74,375
Holbrook 269 78 $60,750
Dix 268 81 $54,097
Bruning 267 67 $70,833
North Loup 263 55 $49,141
Douglas 261 63 $82,500
Hayes Center 258 62 $70,208
Marquette 257 72 $62,083
Gresham 257 54 $42,500
Woodland Hills 256 107 $134,022
Madrid 253 66 $71,750
Gurley 253 57 $59,313
Rosalie 252 62 $80,000
Yankee Hill 250 93 $81,107
Odell 248 59 $70,000
Monroe 248 68 $66,250
Maywood 248 64 $56,500
Dunbar 246 57 $88,750
Pleasant Dale 244 70 $64,676
Uehling 240 75 $67,500
Clearwater 240 62 $61,667
Union 239 65 $57,500
Murdock 235 76 $76,250
Santee 235 48 $41,750
Fordyce 234 80 $81,250
Dwight 233 66 $79,167
Blue Springs 232 75 $34,375
Western 232 55 $46,667
Maxwell 230 64 $78,750
Garland 228 85 $60,000
Otoe 228 74 $36,548
Goehner 225 85 $93,583
Panama 223 86 $89,583
Springview 223 63 $40,625
Lodgepole 221 53 $38,125
Lawrence 217 79 $72,500
Thedford 215 59 $73,867
Dannebrog 213 67 $56,250
Ashton 213 62 $57,750
Overland 212 112 $109,327
Wynot 212 81 $76,618
Funk 212 85 $79,000
Center 210 60 $55,625
Verdon 208 76 $54,583
Meadow Grove 207 77 $56,250
Manley 205 78 $70,000
Lewellen 198 60 $60,625
Harrison 196 77 $48,571
Dawson 193 85 $58,317
Stamford 191 55 $32,917
Pickrell 190 71 $66,250
Hubbard 188 85 $57,250
Raymond 187 87 $91,250
Avoca 186 71 $71,563
Talmage 186 74 $60,000
Diller 183 41 $75,750
Elba 181 66 $39,063
Carleton 180 79 $79,118
Cody 180 59 $68,594
Rockville 180 77 $41,042
Washington 178 88 $88,333
Bushnell 177 77 $37,917
Ruskin 177 79 $78,269
Mason City 175 70 $49,917
Cheney 174 97 $101,932
Bladen 174 77 $63,194
Roca 172 80 $90,500
Daykin 172 70 $86,875
Howard City (Boelus) 170 54 $61,250
Farnam 169 59 $46,500
Nehawka 167 75 $86,250
Edison 167 56 $60,476
Venango 166 77 $70,313
Octavia 166 81 $65,417
Concord 166 79 $83,750
Endicott 165 78 $74,444
Haigler 162 63 $46,667
Bartlett 162 56 $52,500
Lynch 161 54 $37,014
Lake Waconda 161 100 $140,221
Holstein 161 55 $69,271
Brunswick 160 63 $86,250
Ulysses 157 55 $78,125
Hardy 157 55 $60,313
Du Bois 156 64 $43,750
Waco 155 84 $80,417
Hyannis 153 61 $37,500
Creston 149 82 $49,722
Melbeta 149 60 $47,083
Denton 147 83 $54,063
Grafton 146 81 $73,750
Taylor 144 62 $49,500
Leshara 143 84 $78,977
Rulo 142 78 $59,125
Sprague 140 95 $85,156
Craig 139 79 $48,750
Stella 138 78 $53,750
Brownville 137 62 $78,750
Tryon 136 61 $47,292
Swanton 135 79 $70,417
Miller 135 77 $81,250
Colon 134 63 $60,625
Elsie 133 57 $42,500
Sunol 132 97 $38,490
Inman 131 57 $49,250
Alvo 129 87 $89,375
Elk Creek 129 68 $55,227
Burchard 125 76 $61,944
Martell 124 87 $81,458
Davey 124 90 $95,938
Page 124 79 $46,250
Naponee 122 75 $62,500
Malmo 121 85 $103,125
St. Helena 119 83 $83,125
Upland 118 76 $58,125
Thurston 118 61 $71,250
Broadwater 118 67 $56,607
Atlanta 117 82 $70,417
Ohiowa 117 76 $51,250
Naper 117 74 $26,719
Cordova 116 79 $60,000
Republican City 116 85 $56,875
Ayr 116 81 $56,250
Odessa 116 82 $36,875
Brock 116 97 $42,500
Smithfield 115 86 $49,583
Belden 114 79 $73,393
Ericson 114 56 $53,333
Linwood 110 97 $28,929
Bow Valley 108 87 $83,125
Barneston 107 74 $45,625
Eddyville 104 78 $68,828
Bruno 100 61 $34,167
South Bend 99 70 $62,188
Arthur 99 68 $38,750
Bloomington 97 78 $71,250
McLean 97 97 $86,875
Cushing 96 96 $95,924
Steinauer 95 80 $48,182
Prosser 95 78 $56,319
Nemaha 94 63 $51,875
Riverton 93 84 $44,792
Filley 92 80 $49,821
Heartwell 91 65 $58,750
Anselmo 90 78 $65,000
Merriman 90 75 $38,125
Martinsburg 87 80 $28,750
Jansen 86 78 $53,750
Martin 86 87 $52,841
Salem 84 76 $46,563
Roscoe 84 97 $41,250
Morse Bluff 83 81 $70,625
Byron 81 56 $60,625
Wellfleet 81 78 $68,750
Virginia 80 78 $73,750
Wilsonville 79 76 $52,500
Harrisburg 78 81 $76,563
McGrew 77 77 $35,750
Comstock 77 79 $55,278
Alexandria 77 76 $51,771
Henry 77 75 $75,833
Saronville 76 82 $61,667
Holmesville 73 97 $68,333
Clinton 73 97 $54,911
Farwell 71 75 $58,125
Primrose 70 97 $62,500
Danbury 69 80 $51,875
Steele City 68 46 $41,250
Richland 68 81 $40,625
Berwyn 68 77 $73,750
Harbine 67 63 $70,781
Winslow 67 87 $68,730
Dixon 66 79 $56,250
Dunning 65 63 $48,125
Magnet 63 75 $57,250
Tobias 63 75 $44,375
Hubbell 61 76 $53,500
Abie 61 77 $49,821
Newport 58 76 $136,250
Maskell 58 76 $77,750
Bristow 58 97 $46,250
Oak 57 73 $43,125
Whitney 57 75 $67,500
Lemoyne 57 97 $63,947
Reynolds 51 77 $43,750
Liberty 50 97 $36,250
Beacon View 49 104 $102,292
Thayer 49 97 $81,250
Archer 48 84 $58,625
Burr 43 80 $53,750
Garrison 43 77 $71,250
Anoka 42 90 $88,750
Julian 42 76 $29,861
Halsey 41 97 $135,417
Norman 41 79 $57,500
Surprise 41 97 $106,563
Lewiston 40 76 $34,375
Belvidere 40 97 $85,000
Royal 40 77 $57,917
Brewster 38 87 $26,250
Moorefield 37 98 $32,321
Winnetoon 37 97 $75,833
Linoma Beach 36 101 $188,864
Inavale 36 97 $59,028
Elyria 34 97 $54,375
Deweese 31 79 $21,429
Seneca 28 97 $36,250
Barada 28 76 $61,250
Lushton 28 79 $51,875
Nora 28 97 $250,001
Johnstown 27 97 $56,548
Stockville 26 84 $49,250
Gilead 25 76 $65,313
Tarnov 24 97 $76,250
Cotesfield 24 74 $31,250
Strang 24 82 $103,125
Preston 24 97 $71,042
Crab Orchard 23 75 $43,750
Obert 17 97 $55,313
Sholes 17 74 $33,958
Hamlet 17 97 $50,625
Lindy 11 79 $48,125
Bazile Mills 11 97 $131,250