CostIndexUSA

Kansas City, MO vs Lincoln, NE Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

MO
Kansas City
92.5
overall index
$1,450/mo rent
More AffordableNE
Lincoln
91.6
overall index
$1,275/mo rent

Lincoln is slightly cheaper than Kansas City — 1.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Kansas City, you would need $79,200 in Lincoln. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing2.8%
Kansas City
86.6
Lincoln
84.2
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Kansas City
94.1
Lincoln
94.1
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Kansas City
98
Lincoln
97.6
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Kansas City
88.7
Lincoln
88.3
Utilities13.7%
Kansas City
89
Lincoln
76.8

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Lincoln, NE
$79,200
$800 less needed in Lincoln

Formula: salary × (91.6 ÷ 92.5) = salary × 0.9903. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Kansas City, MO

Median Home Price
$312,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,450
Housing Index
86.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.9×

Lincoln, NE

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

Kansas City has 2.8% lower housing costs compared to Lincoln.

Income & Job Market

Kansas City, MO

Median Household Income
$79,800
Per Capita Income
$45,500
Unemployment Rate
2.9%
Population
508,394
Top Industries
FinanceHealthcareManufacturingLogisticsGovernment

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).

Kansas City, MO
4.6×income-to-rent ratio

78% 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.