Colorado Springs vs Lincoln
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Colorado Springs
Lincoln
The Verdict
The cost gap between these cities is 12.9%, with Lincoln being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Colorado Springs has equivalent purchasing power to $66,429 in Lincoln.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Colorado Springs has the same purchasing power as $66,429 in Lincoln.
Conversely, $75,000 in Lincoln equals $84,677 in Colorado Springs.
Living in Colorado Springs vs Lincoln
Housing Costs
Colorado Springs's housing index of 115 is higher Lincoln's 77, translating to median home prices of $380,000 vs $264,000. The $116,000 difference in home prices means roughly $7,536 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,500/mo in Colorado Springs compared to $1,075/mo in Lincoln, a monthly difference of $425.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 100 in Colorado Springs and 98 in Lincoln. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $475/month in Colorado Springs vs $466/month in Lincoln. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 93 in Colorado Springs and 93 in Lincoln. Monthly utility bills average approximately $372 in Colorado Springs vs $372 in Lincoln. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 104 in Colorado Springs 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 $64,712 in Colorado Springs and $71,900 in Lincoln. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $61,630 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 $1,510/month to housing in Colorado Springs vs $1,678/month in Lincoln. In Colorado Springs, median rent of $1,500/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 38 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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