Wondering how far your dollar stretches in Lincoln compared to Grand Island? Below we break down housing costs, rent, taxes, income, and quality of life using 2026 data so you can make an informed relocation or remote-work decision. Every number is computed from Census, BLS, and Zillow data specific to these two metro areas.
| Lincoln | Metric | Grand Island | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 87 | Cost of Living Index | 84 | -3.4% |
| $235,000 | Median Home Price | $185,000 | -21.3% |
| $795 | Median Monthly Rent | $825 | +3.8% |
| $60,800 | Median Household Income | $52,500 | -13.7% |
| 1.6% | Property Tax Rate | 1.8% | +12.5% |
| 2.6% | Unemployment Rate | 3.0% | +15.4% |
| 19 min | Average Commute | 16 min | -15.8% |
| 31.8 | Median Age | 33.5 | +5.3% |
| 360,000 | Metro Population | 75,000 | -79.2% |
Data sourced from Census Bureau, BLS, Zillow, and ApartmentAdvisor (2024-2025). COL Index: 100 = national average.
Monthly mortgage assumes 6.5% interest, 30-year fixed, 20.0%down payment. PITI includes principal, interest, property tax, and homeowner's insurance.
Buying a home in Lincoln costs $1,570/month (PITI) compared to $1,267/month in Grand Island — a difference of $303/month or $3,636/year. The price-to-income ratio is 3.9x in Lincoln versus 3.5x in Grand Island, suggesting Grand Island is relatively more affordable for homebuyers relative to local incomes. At a 15% savings rate, it takes 5.2 years to save a down payment in Lincoln compared to 4.7 years in Grand Island.
Estimated on each city's median household income, single filer, standard deduction, 2025 rates.
| Tax Category | Lincoln | Grand Island |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Income | $60,800 | $52,500 |
| State Income Tax | $2,236 | $1,805 |
| Federal Income Tax | $5,167 | $4,171 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | $4,652 | $4,016 |
| Property Tax (on median home) | $3,760/yr | $3,330/yr |
| State Sales Tax Rate | 5.5% | 5.5% |
| Total Tax Burden | $12,055 (19.8%) | $9,992 (19.0%) |
| Take-Home Pay | $48,745 | $42,508 |
On median household income, total taxes (federal + state + FICA) come to $12,055 in Lincoln (19.8% effective) versus $9,992 in Grand Island (19.0% effective). After taxes, take-home pay is $48,745 in Lincoln and $42,508 in Grand Island. Property taxes add $3,760/year on the median Lincoln home versus $3,330/year in Grand Island.
These figures adjust for cost of living using the formula: adjusted = salary × (COL_destination / COL_origin). If you earn $60,800 in Lincoln (COL 87) and relocate to Grand Island (COL 84), you would need $58,703 to maintain the same purchasing power. This means you can take a pay cut of $2,097 and still maintain your lifestyle in Grand Island.
Beyond costs, quality of life matters. The average commute in Lincoln is 19 minutes versus 16 minutes in Grand Island, a difference of 3 minutes each way. Lincoln's lower unemployment rate of 2.6% versus 3.0% suggests a stronger job market. Grand Island skews slightly older with a median age of 33.5 vs 31.8 in Lincoln.
Lincoln is 3.4% more expensive than Grand Island overall. Lincoln has a cost of living index of 87 compared to 84 for Grand Island (national average = 100). The biggest difference is housing: the median home costs $235,000 in Lincoln vs $185,000 in Grand Island.
The median home price in Lincoln is $235,000, which is $50,000 more than Grand Island's median of $185,000. Monthly rent follows a similar pattern: $795/month in Lincoln vs $825/month in Grand Island, a difference of $30/month or $360/year.
To maintain the same standard of living, a $60,800 salary in Lincoln is equivalent to $58,703 in Grand Island. This is based on the cost of living index ratio: Lincoln's COL index of 87 vs Grand Island's 84. Conversely, $52,500 in Grand Island equals $54,375 in Lincoln.
On a median household income, the combined federal, state, and FICA tax burden is $12,055 (19.8% effective rate) in Lincoln vs $9,992 (19.0% effective rate) in Grand Island. Property taxes on the median home are $3,760/year in Lincoln (1.6% rate) vs $3,330/year in Grand Island (1.8% rate). Sales tax rates are 5.5% in Nebraska and 5.5% in Nebraska.
Lincoln median household income: $60,800/yr. Grand Island median household income: $52,500/yr (Census ACS).
Median monthly rent: $795 in Lincoln vs $825 in Grand Island. Annualized that is $9,540 vs $9,900.
Grand Island offers a lower cost of living (index 84 vs 87), which lets remote-workers keeping a coastal salary stretch further. Lincoln typically wins on amenities and labor-market depth.
Lincoln and Grand Island numbers are pulled from Zillow ZHVI/ZORI (home values, rent), the U.S. Census Bureau ACS (income, demographics), and BEA RPP (cost-of-living index). Each value is timestamped on the page.
Source feeds (Zillow, Freddie Mac PMMS, Census ACS, BEA RPP) are refreshed on their native cadence. Page caches revalidate every 24 hours via Next.js ISR.
No. The Lincoln vs Grand Island cost-of-living page is educational reference using public data and standard formulas. It is not personalized tax, legal, or investment advice. Consult a licensed professional for material decisions.
Home prices use Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI)[1]; rents use Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI)[1]. Median household income comes from the Census ACS 5-year estimates[2].
COL indices use the BEA Regional Price Parity methodology[3], normalized so 100 = national average.
Property tax rates are effective rates from the Tax Foundation[4], expressed as % of owner-occupied home value. Mortgage estimates assume 6.5% fixed rate[5], 30-year term, 20.0% down, $1,800/yr homeowners insurance.
Federal tax calculations[6] assume single filer, standard deduction. State tax uses the top marginal rate times taxable income after the state standard deduction. FICA = 6.2% Social Security (up to wage base) + 1.45% Medicare.
Salary equivalence uses adjusted = salary × (COL_destination / COL_origin). This captures cost-of-living shift but not state income tax differences.
Unemployment figures are the most recent monthly MSA-level readings from the BLS LAUS series[7].
Last reviewed is computed from the maximum retrievedAt across every source this page consumes.
City data from Census Bureau[2], BLS[7], and Zillow[1] (2024-2025). Tax calculations use 2025 IRS rates[6], single filer, standard deduction. Mortgage estimates assume 6.5% PMMS rate[5], 30-year term, 20.0% down. COL Index: 100 = national average[3]. Last reviewed .