CostIndexUSA

Lincoln, NE vs Sacramento, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableNE
Lincoln
91.6
overall index
$1,275/mo rent
CA
Sacramento
106.7
overall index
$2,200/mo rent

Lincoln is significantly cheaper than Sacramento — 16.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Lincoln, you would need $93,200 in Sacramento. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+54.6%
Lincoln
84.2
Sacramento
130.2
🛒 Groceries+11.8%
Lincoln
94.1
Sacramento
105.2
🚗 Transportation+7.9%
Lincoln
97.6
Sacramento
105.3
🏥 Healthcare+7.9%
Lincoln
88.3
Sacramento
95.3
Utilities+97.0%
Lincoln
76.8
Sacramento
151.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Sacramento, CA
$93,200
$13,200 more needed in Sacramento

Formula: salary × (106.7 ÷ 91.6) = salary × 1.1648. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Lincoln, NE

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

Sacramento, CA

Median Home Price
$566,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,200
Housing Index
130.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.4×

Sacramento has 54.6% higher housing costs compared to Lincoln.

Income & Job Market

Lincoln, NE

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

Sacramento, CA

Median Household Income
$95,000
Per Capita Income
$54,100
Unemployment Rate
5.8%
Population
524,943
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareTechnologyEducationAgriculture

Affordability at a Glance

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

Lincoln, NE
4.7×income-to-rent ratio

79% of income left after rent (median)

Sacramento, CA
3.6×income-to-rent ratio

72% 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.