Grand Island, Nebraska
Living in Grand Island, Nebraska is about 10% cheaper than the national average, with a cost of living index of 90 (US = 100). Typical rent is $1,340 a month, 31% below the national figure of $1,932, and regular gas costs $3.98 a gallon versus $3.98 nationally as of November 11, 2026. Rent, gas, groceries, electricity and car insurance take about 36% of the area's $75,853 median household income.
Key Numbers
Gas (Regular)
$3.98
National: $3.98
Avg Rent (All)
$1,340
National: $1,932
Grocery Inflation
1.77%
Year-over-year
Fast Food Avg
$12.99
Combo meal
Electricity
13.54¢
per kWh · ~$122/mo
Car Insurance
$128/mo
$1,534/yr
Median Household Income
$75,853
36% goes to essentials
Car Insurance
Avg $1,534 in Grand Island. Compare rates:
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Avg rent $1,340/mo in Grand Island. Browse listings:
Grocery Prices
Grocery Prices — 2000 to Present
National BLS averages · submit local prices below ↓
Eggs (dozen)
Bird flu volatility
$0.97 in 2000 → $2.32 BLS avg
Milk (gallon)
$2.79 in 2000 → $4.10 BLS avg
Ground Beef (lb)
$1.48 in 2000 → $6.75 BLS avg
Bread (loaf)
$0.91 in 2000 → $1.86 BLS avg
Chicken Breast (lb)
$1.06 in 2000 → $2.03 BLS avg
Butter (lb)
$3.98 BLS avg
Bacon (lb)
$2.75 in 2000 → $6.69 BLS avg
Cheddar Cheese (lb)
$3.84 in 2000 → $6.13 BLS avg
Pasta (lb)
$0.88 in 2000 → $1.38 BLS avg
Rice (5 lb)
$2.50 in 2000 → $5.50 BLS avg
Coffee (12 oz)
$2.65 in 2000 → $6.94 BLS avg
Orange Juice (64 oz)
Citrus shortage
$5.42 estimate
Potatoes (5 lb)
$1.96 in 2000 → $4.95 BLS avg
Apples (3 lb)
$5.20 estimate
Tomatoes (lb)
$1.44 in 2000 → $2.08 BLS avg
Lettuce (head)
$0.75 in 2000 → $1.96 BLS avg
Cooking Oil (48 oz)
$7.76 estimate
Yogurt (32 oz)
$4.94 estimate
Cereal (family size)
$6.20 estimate
Frozen Pizza
$8.65 estimate
| Item | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 | 2015 | 2020 | 2022 | 2026 | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eggs (dozen)Bird flu volatility | $0.97 | $1.21 | $1.79 | $2.11 | $1.46 | $1.93 | $2.32 | +137.9% |
| Milk (gallon) | $2.79 | $3.30 | $3.24 | $3.76 | $3.25 | $3.79 | $4.10 | +47.3% |
| Ground Beef (lb) | $1.48 | $2.19 | $2.28 | $4.24 | $3.89 | $4.55 | $6.75 | +355.5% |
| Bread (loaf) | $0.91 | $1.00 | $1.36 | $1.48 | $1.35 | $1.55 | $1.86 | +105.2% |
| Chicken Breast (lb) | $1.06 | $1.03 | $1.26 | $1.55 | $1.41 | $1.62 | $2.03 | +91.3% |
| Butter (lb) | — | — | — | — | $3.86 | $3.67 | $3.98 | -4.2% since 2018 |
| Bacon (lb) | $2.75 | $3.37 | $3.63 | $5.59 | $5.50 | $7.22 | $6.69 | +143.1% |
| Cheddar Cheese (lb) | $3.84 | $4.21 | $4.72 | $5.40 | $5.20 | $5.32 | $6.13 | +59.6% |
| Pasta (lb) | $0.88 | $0.94 | $1.15 | $1.26 | $1.23 | $1.12 | $1.38 | +57.1% |
| Rice (5 lb) | $2.50 | $2.98 | $3.77 | $3.46 | $3.58 | $4.16 | $5.50 | +120.6% |
| Coffee (12 oz) | $2.65 | $2.29 | $2.86 | $3.55 | $3.13 | $3.85 | $6.94 | +161.3% |
| Orange Juice (64 oz)Citrus shortageLocal estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $3.72 | $5.42 | +45.7% since 2022 |
| Potatoes (5 lb) | $1.96 | $2.29 | $2.81 | $3.34 | $4.01 | $3.96 | $4.95 | +152.6% |
| Apples (3 lb)Local estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $4.49 | $5.20 | +15.8% since 2022 |
| Tomatoes (lb) | $1.44 | $1.66 | $1.84 | $2.09 | $2.22 | $1.89 | $2.08 | +44.4% |
| Lettuce (head) | $0.75 | $0.82 | $0.90 | $1.17 | $1.34 | — | $1.96 | +162.3% |
| Cooking Oil (48 oz)Local estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $5.54 | $7.76 | +40.1% since 2022 |
| Yogurt (32 oz)Local estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $4.15 | $4.94 | +19.0% since 2022 |
| Cereal (family size)Local estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $4.79 | $6.20 | +29.4% since 2022 |
| Frozen PizzaLocal estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $6.31 | $8.65 | +37.1% since 2022 |
Dining & Restaurants
Fast Food Meal
$12.99
Casual Dining
$24.18
Monthly Spend
$431.46
+5.41% YoYChain Restaurant Meal Prices — 2022 vs. Today
Combo meal / typical order for one
McDonald's
2022: $8.36
$13.49
+61.4%Wendy's
2022: $9.44
$14.57
+54.3%Chipotle
2022: $10.12
$15.11
+49.3%Starbucks
2022: $4.58
$6.36
+38.9%Eating out more? Save on groceries with Ibotta and cook at home more often.
Looking for an Apartment in Grand Island?
Average 1BR: $1,099/mo · 2BR: $1,581/mo
Grand Island Cost of Living FAQ
Is Grand Island, NE expensive to live in?
Grand Island has a cost of living index of 90, where 100 is the US average, so it is about 10% cheaper than average. It is the most expensive of the 3 Nebraska cities we track.
What is the average rent in Grand Island, NE?
Typical rent in Grand Island is $1,340 a month for all home types as of September 2026, 31% below the national figure of $1,932. One bedroom units average about $1,099 and two bedrooms about $1,581. Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index for the metro area.
Is rent going up in Grand Island?
Rent in Grand Island rose 1.7% over the past year, slower than the 2.7% change nationally.
How much is gas in Grand Island?
Regular unleaded costs about $3.98 a gallon in Grand Island as of November 11, 2026, based on the AAA average for Nebraska. That is about the same as the national average of $3.98.
How much is electricity in Grand Island?
Homes in Nebraska pay an average of 13.5 cents per kWh (EIA), versus 18.4 cents nationally. At 900 kWh a month, a typical bill in Grand Island is about $122.
How much is car insurance in Grand Island?
Full coverage car insurance averages $1,534 a year in Nebraska, or about $128 a month (Bankrate and NAIC state average), compared with $2,150 a year nationally.
How much do you need to live in Grand Island?
Median household income in the Grand Island area is $75,853 (Census ACS 2023, county level). Rent, gas, groceries, electricity and car insurance add up to about $27,310 a year, or 36% of that income. Groceries are counted at $5,846 a year, the average household spend on food at home in the region (BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey).
How does Grand Island compare with the rest of Nebraska?
Rent in Grand Island is about the same as the $1,340 average across the 3 Nebraska cities we track, and its cost of living index of 90 compares with a state average of 83.
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