CostIndexUSA

Bloomington, IN vs Lincoln, NE Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

IN
Bloomington
95.1
overall index
$1,550/mo rent
More AffordableNE
Lincoln
91.6
overall index
$1,275/mo rent

Lincoln is slightly cheaper than Bloomington — 3.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Bloomington, you would need $77,100 in Lincoln. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing1.6%
Bloomington
85.6
Lincoln
84.2
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Bloomington
94.3
Lincoln
94.1
🚗 Transportation6.2%
Bloomington
104.1
Lincoln
97.6
🏥 Healthcare6.3%
Bloomington
94.2
Lincoln
88.3
Utilities11.2%
Bloomington
86.5
Lincoln
76.8

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Bloomington to see what you'd need to earn in Lincoln to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Lincoln, NE
$77,100
$2,900 less needed in Lincoln

Formula: salary × (91.6 ÷ 95.1) = salary × 0.9632. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Bloomington, IN

Median Home Price
$288,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,550
Housing Index
85.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.5×

Lincoln, NE

Median Home Price
$289,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,275
Housing Index
84.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.9×

Bloomington has 1.6% lower housing costs compared to Lincoln.

Income & Job Market

Bloomington, IN

Median Household Income
$58,700
Per Capita Income
$33,500
Unemployment Rate
4.4%
Population
79,168
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnologyGovernmentRetail

Lincoln, NE

Median Household Income
$71,200
Per Capita Income
$40,600
Unemployment Rate
2.7%
Population
289,102
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareGovernmentFinanceManufacturing

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Bloomington, IN
3.2×income-to-rent ratio

68% of income left after rent (median)

Lincoln, NE
4.7×income-to-rent ratio

79% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.