City Comparison

Gresham vs Lincoln

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Gresham

Oregon
128
Expensive
$459,000
Median Home
$1,450/mo
Median Rent
$69,600
Median Income

Lincoln

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

The Verdict

37.6%

Living in Lincoln costs 37.6% less than Gresham. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Gresham, you would need $54,492 in Lincoln.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
172
Gresham
77
Lincoln
Groceries
101
Gresham
98
Lincoln
Utilities
96
Gresham
93
Lincoln
Transportation
126
Gresham
97
Lincoln
Healthcare
103
Gresham
102
Lincoln

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Gresham has the same purchasing power as $54,492 in Lincoln.

Conversely, $75,000 in Lincoln equals $103,226 in Gresham.

Living in Gresham vs Lincoln

Housing Costs

Gresham's housing index of 172 is higher Lincoln's 77, translating to median home prices of $459,000 vs $264,000. The $195,000 difference in home prices means roughly $12,672 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,450/mo in Gresham compared to $1,075/mo in Lincoln, a monthly difference of $375.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 101 in Gresham and 98 in Lincoln. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $480/month in Gresham 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 96 in Gresham and 93 in Lincoln. Monthly utility bills average approximately $384 in Gresham vs $372 in Lincoln. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 103 in Gresham 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 $69,600 in Gresham and $71,900 in Lincoln. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $54,375 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 $1,624/month to housing in Gresham vs $1,678/month in Lincoln. In Gresham, median rent of $1,450/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 95 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Lincoln is 37.6% more affordable overall with an index of 93 vs 128.
A $75,000 salary in Gresham has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $54,492 in Lincoln, based on the cost of living difference.
Gresham's housing index is 172 with median homes at $459,000, while Lincoln's is 77 with median homes at $264,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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