Boulder vs Lincoln
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Boulder
Lincoln
The Verdict
Lincoln is 59.1% less expensive than Boulder overall. A household earning $75,000 in Boulder would need approximately $47,128 in Lincoln to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Boulder has the same purchasing power as $47,128 in Lincoln.
Conversely, $75,000 in Lincoln equals $119,355 in Boulder.
Living in Boulder vs Lincoln
Housing Costs
Boulder's housing index of 230 is higher Lincoln's 77, translating to median home prices of $750,000 vs $264,000. The $486,000 difference in home prices means roughly $31,596 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,300/mo in Boulder compared to $1,075/mo in Lincoln, a monthly difference of $1,225.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 107 in Boulder and 98 in Lincoln. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $508/month in Boulder vs $466/month in Lincoln. Lincoln offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $504/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 94 in Boulder and 93 in Lincoln. Monthly utility bills average approximately $376 in Boulder vs $372 in Lincoln. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 104 in Boulder 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 $73,123 in Boulder and $71,900 in Lincoln. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $49,407 and $77,312 respectively. Lincoln residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,706/month to housing in Boulder vs $1,678/month in Lincoln. In Boulder, median rent of $2,300/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. 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 153 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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