Lincoln vs Mesa
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026 Data
Lincoln
Mesa
💡 The Verdict
Lincoln is 9% cheaper than Mesa overall. A $75,000 salary in Lincoln is equivalent to $82,500 in Mesa.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values for Lincoln (left) vs Mesa (right). National average = 100.
Detailed Price Comparison
Estimated item-level prices in Lincoln versus Mesa. Differences shown from Lincoln perspective.
| Item | Lincoln | Mesa | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Bed Rent | $780/mo | $960/mo | $-180.00 |
| 2-Bed Rent | $1,090/mo | $1,350/mo | $-260.00 |
| 3-Bed Rent | $1,420/mo | $1,740/mo | $-320.00 |
| Bread (loaf) | $2.46 | $2.62 | $-0.16 |
| Milk (gallon) | $3.64 | $4.11 | $-0.47 |
| Eggs (dozen) | $3.00 | $2.89 | +$0.11 |
| Coffee (latte) | $5.18 | $5.46 | $-0.28 |
| Gas (gallon) | $3.08 | $3.47 | $-0.39 |
| Restaurant Meal | $16.08 | $15.49 | +$0.59 |
💰 Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Lincoln has the same purchasing power as $82,500 in Mesa.
Conversely, $75,000 in Mesa equals $68,182 in Lincoln.
💼 Take-Home Pay Comparison
Estimated annual take-home pay on a $75,000 salary after federal, FICA, and state income taxes.
The $2325 difference is driven by Nebraska having a higher state income tax rate. Nebraska details → · Arizona details →
Reading These Numbers: Lincoln (90) vs Mesa (99)
Lincoln at 90 is 10% below the US average, while Mesa at 99 is 1% below average. The cost difference between these cities is relatively modest.
In Lincoln, the composite index of 90 reflects a weighted calculation where housing carries the most influence at 82, followed by groceries (93), utilities (84), transportation (84), and healthcare (91). Costs are fairly balanced across categories.
For renters: With median rents of $1,090/mo in Lincoln and $1,350/mo in Mesa, the annual rent difference is approximately $3,120.0. Over a 5-year period, that compounds to $15,600.0 in savings by choosing the more affordable city.
For homebuyers: The $91,000.0 difference in median home prices between Lincoln and Mesa translates to meaningful differences in mortgage payments at current rates. Factor this into your budget alongside property taxes and insurance, which also vary by location.
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Making Your Decision: Lincoln vs Mesa
Choosing between Lincoln and Mesa involves more than just comparing index numbers. Consider how each category aligns with your personal spending patterns. If you work from home, transportation costs matter less than housing and utilities. If you eat out frequently, the groceries index may understate your actual food spending — look at the restaurant meal prices in the detailed comparison table above instead.
The cost gap between Lincoln and Mesa reflects thousands of individual pricing differences across housing markets, grocery chains, utility providers, and healthcare networks. No two households experience the same effective cost of living even in the same city, which is why the category breakdown matters more than the headline number. Adjust the lifestyle weighting sliders above to see how your spending priorities shift the comparison between these specific metros.