Lincoln vs Plano
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Lincoln
Plano
The Verdict
Living in Lincoln costs 14.7% less than Plano. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Lincoln, you would need $87,903 in Plano.
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 $87,903 in Plano.
Conversely, $75,000 in Plano equals $63,991 in Lincoln.
Living in Lincoln vs Plano
Housing Costs
Lincoln's housing index of 77 is lower Plano's 123, translating to median home prices of $264,000 vs $400,000. The $136,000 difference in home prices means roughly $8,844 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,075/mo in Lincoln compared to $1,700/mo in Plano, a monthly difference of $625.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 98 in Lincoln and 98 in Plano. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $466/month in Lincoln vs $466/month in Plano. 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 Plano. Monthly utility bills average approximately $372 in Lincoln vs $396 in Plano. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 102 in Lincoln and 100 in Plano. 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 $96,348 in Plano. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $77,312 and $88,393 respectively. Plano 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 $2,248/month in Plano. In Lincoln, median rent of $1,075/mo fits within this budget. In Plano, median rent of $1,700/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 46 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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