City Comparison

Las Vegas vs Lincoln

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Las Vegas

Nevada
101
Average
$350,000
Median Home
$1,400/mo
Median Rent
$56,415
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 Lincoln costs 8.6% less than Las Vegas. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Las Vegas, you would need $69,059 in Lincoln.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
106
Las Vegas
77
Lincoln
Groceries
101
Las Vegas
98
Lincoln
Utilities
94
Las Vegas
93
Lincoln
Transportation
107
Las Vegas
97
Lincoln
Healthcare
96
Las Vegas
102
Lincoln

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Las Vegas has the same purchasing power as $69,059 in Lincoln.

Conversely, $75,000 in Lincoln equals $81,452 in Las Vegas.

Living in Las Vegas vs Lincoln

Housing Costs

Las Vegas's housing index of 106 is higher Lincoln's 77, translating to median home prices of $350,000 vs $264,000. The $86,000 difference in home prices means roughly $5,592 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,400/mo in Las Vegas compared to $1,075/mo in Lincoln, a monthly difference of $325.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 101 in Las Vegas and 98 in Lincoln. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $480/month in Las Vegas 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 Las Vegas and 93 in Lincoln. Monthly utility bills average approximately $376 in Las Vegas vs $372 in Lincoln. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 96 in Las Vegas 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 $56,415 in Las Vegas and $71,900 in Lincoln. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $55,856 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 $1,316/month to housing in Las Vegas vs $1,678/month in Lincoln. In Las Vegas, median rent of $1,400/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 29 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Lincoln is 8.6% more affordable overall with an index of 93 vs 101.
A $75,000 salary in Las Vegas has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $69,059 in Lincoln, based on the cost of living difference.
Las Vegas's housing index is 106 with median homes at $350,000, while Lincoln's is 77 with median homes at $264,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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