What it actually costs to live in Nebraska.
Nebraska’s cost-of-living index sits at 90 on the MERIC composite (national average = 100), ranking #41 of 51 jurisdictions for cost. That means a standard basket of goods + services in Nebraska costs about 10% LESS than the US average. Median home price: $285,000. Population-weighted median rent across metros: $897/mo.
Nebraska cost components
| Component | Nebraska | National avg |
|---|---|---|
| COL index (basket) | 90 | 100 |
| Median home price | $285,000 | ~$420,000 |
| Median rent (pop-weighted) | $897/mo | ~$1,850/mo |
| Commute cost (proxy) | $160/mo | ~$185/mo |
Commute cost = avg metro commute minutes × $0.18/min × 2 trips × 22 work days. Refined BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey integration tracked for v1.
How Nebraska compares
Of all 51 US jurisdictions, Nebraska ranks #41 for cost. That puts Nebraska among the 10 most affordable — typical relocation candidates from CA/NY/MA looking for housing relief land here. For the live state-vs-state heat map see the interactive cost-of-living map.
Nebraska metros — city-level cost
State averages hide major intra-state variation. Omaha has very different housing dynamics than smaller Nebraska metros. Click any city for the full home affordability breakdown.
- OmahaCOL 91 · home $260,000rent $941/mo →
- LincolnCOL 87 · home $235,000rent $795/mo →
- Grand IslandCOL 84 · home $185,000rent $825/mo →
More Nebraska metros coming as we expand city coverage.
Nebraska cost of living — common questions
What is the cost of living in Nebraska?
Nebraska's MERIC cost-of-living index is 90 (national average = 100). That means a typical basket of goods + services in Nebraska costs about 10% less than the US average.
What is the median home price in Nebraska?
Nebraska's state-level median home price is approximately $285,000 (Census ACS 2024). Metros vary significantly — see the top-metro list below for city-level breakdowns.
What is the median rent in Nebraska?
Nebraska's population-weighted median rent across metros in our dataset is approximately $897/mo. Major-metro rents typically run 30-80% above this state-level average.
Are there any Nebraska-specific cost-of-living quirks?
Nebraska COL index ~91; Omaha is increasingly a financial-services back office (Berkshire Hathaway HQ, Mutual of Omaha, TD Ameritrade legacy) with rising housing costs.
Reviewed by CalcFi Editorial · COL source: MERIC quarterly; home + rent: Census ACS 2024. Last verified 2026-04-19.