City Comparison

Alexandria vs Lincoln

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Alexandria

Virginia
145
Expensive
$590,000
Median Home
$2,125/mo
Median Rent
$119,700
Median Income

Lincoln

Nebraska
93
Below Average
$264,000
Median Home
$1,075/mo
Median Rent
$71,900
Median Income

The Verdict

55.9%

Living in Lincoln costs 55.9% less than Alexandria. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Alexandria, you would need $48,103 in Lincoln.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
201
Alexandria
77
Lincoln
Groceries
113
Alexandria
98
Lincoln
Utilities
97
Alexandria
93
Lincoln
Transportation
107
Alexandria
97
Lincoln
Healthcare
102
Alexandria
102
Lincoln

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Alexandria has the same purchasing power as $48,103 in Lincoln.

Conversely, $75,000 in Lincoln equals $116,935 in Alexandria.

Living in Alexandria vs Lincoln

Housing Costs

Alexandria's housing index of 201 is higher Lincoln's 77, translating to median home prices of $590,000 vs $264,000. The $326,000 difference in home prices means roughly $21,192 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,125/mo in Alexandria compared to $1,075/mo in Lincoln, a monthly difference of $1,050.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 113 in Alexandria and 98 in Lincoln. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $537/month in Alexandria vs $466/month in Lincoln. Lincoln offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $852/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 97 in Alexandria and 93 in Lincoln. Monthly utility bills average approximately $388 in Alexandria vs $372 in Lincoln. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 102 in Alexandria and 102 in Lincoln. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $119,700 in Alexandria and $71,900 in Lincoln. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $82,552 and $77,312 respectively. Alexandria residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,793/month to housing in Alexandria vs $1,678/month in Lincoln. In Alexandria, median rent of $2,125/mo fits within this budget. In Lincoln, median rent of $1,075/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 124 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Lincoln is 55.9% more affordable overall with an index of 93 vs 145.
A $75,000 salary in Alexandria has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $48,103 in Lincoln, based on the cost of living difference.
Alexandria's housing index is 201 with median homes at $590,000, while Lincoln's is 77 with median homes at $264,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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