City Comparison

Hillsboro vs Lincoln

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Hillsboro

Oregon
128
Expensive
$533,000
Median Home
$1,725/mo
Median Rent
$106,700
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 Hillsboro. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Hillsboro, you would need $54,492 in Lincoln.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
175
Hillsboro
77
Lincoln
Groceries
108
Hillsboro
98
Lincoln
Utilities
96
Hillsboro
93
Lincoln
Transportation
126
Hillsboro
97
Lincoln
Healthcare
103
Hillsboro
102
Lincoln

Salary Equivalence

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

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

Living in Hillsboro vs Lincoln

Housing Costs

Hillsboro's housing index of 175 is higher Lincoln's 77, translating to median home prices of $533,000 vs $264,000. The $269,000 difference in home prices means roughly $17,484 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,725/mo in Hillsboro compared to $1,075/mo in Lincoln, a monthly difference of $650.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 108 in Hillsboro and 98 in Lincoln. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $513/month in Hillsboro vs $466/month in Lincoln. Lincoln offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $564/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 96 in Hillsboro and 93 in Lincoln. Monthly utility bills average approximately $384 in Hillsboro vs $372 in Lincoln. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 103 in Hillsboro 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 $106,700 in Hillsboro and $71,900 in Lincoln. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $83,359 and $77,312 respectively. Hillsboro residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,490/month to housing in Hillsboro vs $1,678/month in Lincoln. In Hillsboro, median rent of $1,725/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 98 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 Hillsboro has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $54,492 in Lincoln, based on the cost of living difference.
Hillsboro's housing index is 175 with median homes at $533,000, while Lincoln's is 77 with median homes at $264,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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