City Comparison

Flint vs Lincoln

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Flint

Michigan
85
Very Affordable
$75,000
Median Home
$775/mo
Median Rent
$30,400
Median Income

Lincoln

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

The Verdict

8.6%

Living in Flint costs 8.6% less than Lincoln. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Flint, you would need $82,059 in Lincoln.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
31
Flint
77
Lincoln
Groceries
100
Flint
98
Lincoln
Utilities
94
Flint
93
Lincoln
Transportation
108
Flint
97
Lincoln
Healthcare
95
Flint
102
Lincoln

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Flint has the same purchasing power as $82,059 in Lincoln.

Conversely, $75,000 in Lincoln equals $68,548 in Flint.

Living in Flint vs Lincoln

Housing Costs

Flint's housing index of 31 is lower Lincoln's 77, translating to median home prices of $75,000 vs $264,000. The $189,000 difference in home prices means roughly $12,288 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $775/mo in Flint compared to $1,075/mo in Lincoln, a monthly difference of $300.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 100 in Flint and 98 in Lincoln. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $475/month in Flint 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 94 in Flint and 93 in Lincoln. Monthly utility bills average approximately $376 in Flint vs $372 in Lincoln. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 95 in Flint 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 $30,400 in Flint and $71,900 in Lincoln. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $35,765 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 $709/month to housing in Flint vs $1,678/month in Lincoln. In Flint, median rent of $775/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 46 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Flint is 8.6% more affordable overall with an index of 85 vs 93.
A $75,000 salary in Flint has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $82,059 in Lincoln, based on the cost of living difference.
Flint's housing index is 31 with median homes at $75,000, while Lincoln's is 77 with median homes at $264,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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