CostIndexUSA

Lexington, KY vs Lincoln, NE Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

KY
Lexington
92.9
overall index
$1,500/mo rent
More AffordableNE
Lincoln
91.6
overall index
$1,275/mo rent

Lincoln is slightly cheaper than Lexington — 1.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Lexington, you would need $78,900 in Lincoln. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+9.2%
Lexington
77.1
Lincoln
84.2
🛒 Groceries2.2%
Lexington
96.2
Lincoln
94.1
🚗 Transportation4.0%
Lexington
101.7
Lincoln
97.6
🏥 Healthcare4.0%
Lexington
92
Lincoln
88.3
Utilities+2.9%
Lexington
74.6
Lincoln
76.8

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Lincoln, NE
$78,900
$1,100 less needed in Lincoln

Formula: salary × (91.6 ÷ 92.9) = salary × 0.9860. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Lexington, KY

Median Home Price
$313,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,500
Housing Index
77.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.4×

Lincoln, NE

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

Lincoln has 9.2% higher housing costs compared to Lexington.

Income & Job Market

Lexington, KY

Median Household Income
$70,000
Per Capita Income
$39,900
Unemployment Rate
3.8%
Population
322,570
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingAgricultureGovernment

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).

Lexington, KY
3.9×income-to-rent ratio

74% 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.