Lincoln vs Midland
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Lincoln
Midland
The Verdict
Midland is 1.1% less expensive than Lincoln overall. A household earning $75,000 in Lincoln would need approximately $74,194 in Midland to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Lincoln has the same purchasing power as $74,194 in Midland.
Conversely, $75,000 in Midland equals $75,815 in Lincoln.
Living in Lincoln vs Midland
Housing Costs
Lincoln's housing index of 77 is lower Midland's 84, translating to median home prices of $264,000 vs $269,000. The $5,000 difference in home prices means roughly $324 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,075/mo in Lincoln compared to $1,450/mo in Midland, a monthly difference of $375.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 98 in Lincoln and 96 in Midland. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $466/month in Lincoln vs $456/month in Midland. 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 93 in Lincoln and 99 in Midland. Monthly utility bills average approximately $372 in Lincoln vs $396 in Midland. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 102 in Lincoln and 110 in Midland. 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 $71,900 in Lincoln and $89,600 in Midland. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $77,312 and $97,391 respectively. Midland residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,678/month to housing in Lincoln vs $2,091/month in Midland. In Lincoln, median rent of $1,075/mo fits within this budget. In Midland, median rent of $1,450/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Healthcare, where the gap is 8 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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