Nebraska
NEMidwest · 3 cities tracked · Updated 2026
Nebraska is cheaper than the national average. Across the 3 cities we track, the cost of living index averages 83 (US = 100) and typical rent averages $1,340 a month, 31% below the national figure of $1,932.
State Averages
Avg Gas Price
$3.98
Regular unleaded
Avg Rent
$1,340
All units/mo
Avg COL Index
83
vs. 100 national avg
Nebraska Cost of Living Analysis
Where the money goes
The biggest break is rent, at 31% below it.
Rent trend
Rent rose an average of 1.7% over the past year across the 3 cities we track, slower than the 2.7% national change.
City to city
Where you live inside Nebraska matters. Typical rent runs from $1,281 in Lincoln to $1,398 in Omaha, a gap of $117 a month or about $1,404 a year.
Affordability
Rent, gas, groceries, electricity and car insurance take about 36% of median household income in the counties we track, which ranks the 6th lowest of 51 states. Median household income there averages $75,853 (Census ACS 2023). Groceries are counted at what the average household in the region spends on food at home (BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey).
Energy and driving
Regular gas costs $3.98 a gallon, about the same as the $3.98 national average. A typical electric bill runs about $122 a month versus $166 nationally, and full coverage car insurance averages $1,780 a year versus $2,150.
Groceries
Grocery prices in the Midwest rose 1.5% over the past year (BLS food at home), compared with 1.8% nationally. Item prices on our city pages are national BLS averages, so local stores may be higher or lower.
Built from the AAA, Zillow, EIA, Bankrate, BLS and Census data on this site. National comparisons use typical rent of $1,932 a month and gas of $3.98 a gallon. See the methodology.
Cities in Nebraska
Median Household Income by County
Source: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · 93 counties
| County | Median Income |
|---|---|
| 1Sarpy County | $101,402 |
| 2Washington County | $90,188 |
| 3Saunders County | $89,395 |
| 4Cass County | $88,255 |
| 5Butler County | $82,603 |
| 6Otoe County | $81,430 |
| 7Seward County | $81,122 |
| 8Hamilton County | $79,884 |
| 9Colfax County | $79,720 |
| 10Kearney County | $79,167 |
| 11Gosper County | $79,145 |
| 12Douglas County | $79,081 |
| 13Stanton County | $78,275 |
| 14Saline County | $77,027 |
| 15Fillmore County | $76,354 |
| 16Clay County | $75,938 |
| 17Pierce County | $75,938 |
| 18Buffalo County | $74,570 |
| 19Howard County | $74,508 |
| 20York County | $74,058 |
| 21Cedar County | $73,977 |
| 22Thomas County | $72,708 |
| 23Lancaster County | $72,625 |
| 24Platte County | $72,335 |
| 25Polk County | $71,771 |
| 26Dakota County | $71,655 |
| 27Logan County | $71,650 |
| 28Boone County | $71,367 |
| 29Dodge County | $71,294 |
| 30Banner County | $71,250 |
| 31Cuming County | $70,708 |
| 32Harlan County | $70,536 |
| 33Nuckolls County | $70,201 |
| 34Dixon County | $69,156 |
| 35Grant County | $69,063 |
| 36Box Butte County | $68,778 |
| 37Garfield County | $68,611 |
| 38Frontier County | $68,207 |
| 39Wayne County | $67,687 |
| 40Hall County | $67,549 |
| 41Arthur County | $67,500 |
| 42Perkins County | $67,500 |
| 43Holt County | $67,225 |
| 44Custer County | $66,310 |
| 45Phelps County | $65,988 |
| 46Adams County | $65,680 |
| 47Nance County | $65,438 |
| 48Dawson County | $65,383 |
| 49Webster County | $65,197 |
| 50Thurston County | $64,838 |
| 51Knox County | $64,821 |
| 52Madison County | $64,637 |
| 53Gage County | $64,426 |
| 54Lincoln County | $64,342 |
| 55Antelope County | $63,750 |
| 56Cherry County | $63,750 |
| 57Thayer County | $63,095 |
| 58Merrick County | $62,849 |
| 59Chase County | $62,782 |
| 60Sherman County | $61,935 |
| 61Deuel County | $61,438 |
| 62McPherson County | $61,316 |
| 63Blaine County | $61,250 |
| 64Scotts Bluff County | $60,960 |
| 65Furnas County | $60,625 |
| 66Jefferson County | $60,568 |
| 67Hayes County | $60,313 |
| 68Keya Paha County | $60,313 |
| 69Loup County | $60,156 |
| 70Nemaha County | $60,132 |
| 71Red Willow County | $60,000 |
| 72Morrill County | $59,773 |
| 73Johnson County | $59,457 |
| 74Kimball County | $59,438 |
| 75Boyd County | $58,984 |
| 76Valley County | $58,902 |
| 77Greeley County | $58,894 |
| 78Keith County | $58,132 |
| 79Franklin County | $57,692 |
| 80Cheyenne County | $57,594 |
| 81Rock County | $57,500 |
| 82Burt County | $57,303 |
| 83Sheridan County | $56,900 |
| 84Dundy County | $56,563 |
| 85Wheeler County | $55,893 |
| 86Richardson County | $55,578 |
| 87Pawnee County | $54,926 |
| 88Dawes County | $54,381 |
| 89Sioux County | $54,076 |
| 90Hitchcock County | $52,016 |
| 91Brown County | $51,538 |
| 92Hooker County | $45,854 |
| 93Garden County | $44,777 |
Nebraska Cost of Living FAQ
Is Nebraska expensive to live in?
Nebraska is about 17% cheaper than the national average. Across the 3 cities we track, the cost of living index averages 83, where 100 is the US average.
What is the average rent in Nebraska?
Typical rent in Nebraska averages $1,340 a month across the 3 cities we track as of September 2026, 31% below the national typical rent of $1,932. That ranks the 15th lowest of 51 states. The figure is the Zillow Observed Rent Index for all home types.
What is the cheapest city to live in Nebraska?
Of the 3 cities we track in Nebraska, Lincoln has the lowest cost of living index at 78. It also has the lowest typical rent we track there, at $1,281 a month.
What is the most expensive city in Nebraska?
Grand Island has the highest cost of living index of the cities we track in Nebraska, at 90. The highest typical rent is in Omaha, at $1,398 a month.
How much is gas in Nebraska?
Regular unleaded averages $3.98 a gallon in Nebraska as of November 11, 2026 (AAA state average), about the same as the national average of $3.98. That is near the middle of 51 states.
Is rent going up in Nebraska?
Rent in Nebraska rose an average of 1.7% over the past year across the 3 cities we track, compared with a 2.7% change nationally.
How much is electricity in Nebraska?
Residential electricity in Nebraska averages 13.5 cents per kWh (EIA), versus 18.4 cents nationally. At 900 kWh a month, a typical bill is about $122.
How much is car insurance in Nebraska?
Full coverage car insurance in Nebraska averages $1,780 a year, or about $148 a month (Bankrate and NAIC), compared with $2,150 a year nationally. That is near the middle of 51 states.