City Comparison

Lincoln vs Pueblo

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Lincoln

Nebraska
93
Below Average
$264,000
Median Home
$1,075/mo
Median Rent
$71,900
Median Income

Pueblo

Colorado
90
Below Average
$247,000
Median Home
$1,075/mo
Median Rent
$56,700
Median Income

The Verdict

3.3%

Pueblo is 3.3% less expensive than Lincoln overall. A household earning $75,000 in Lincoln would need approximately $72,581 in Pueblo to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
77
Lincoln
81
Pueblo
Groceries
98
Lincoln
99
Pueblo
Utilities
93
Lincoln
96
Pueblo
Transportation
97
Lincoln
99
Pueblo
Healthcare
102
Lincoln
102
Pueblo

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Lincoln has the same purchasing power as $72,581 in Pueblo.

Conversely, $75,000 in Pueblo equals $77,500 in Lincoln.

Living in Lincoln vs Pueblo

Housing Costs

Lincoln's housing index of 77 is lower Pueblo's 81, translating to median home prices of $264,000 vs $247,000. The $17,000 difference in home prices means roughly $1,104 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,075/mo in Lincoln compared to $1,075/mo in Pueblo, a monthly difference of $0.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 98 in Lincoln and 99 in Pueblo. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $466/month in Lincoln vs $470/month in Pueblo. 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 96 in Pueblo. Monthly utility bills average approximately $372 in Lincoln vs $384 in Pueblo. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 102 in Lincoln and 102 in Pueblo. 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 $56,700 in Pueblo. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $77,312 and $63,000 respectively. Lincoln residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,678/month to housing in Lincoln vs $1,323/month in Pueblo. In Lincoln, median rent of $1,075/mo fits within this budget. In Pueblo, median rent of $1,075/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 4 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Pueblo is 3.3% more affordable overall with an index of 90 vs 93.
A $75,000 salary in Lincoln has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $72,581 in Pueblo, based on the cost of living difference.
Lincoln's housing index is 77 with median homes at $264,000, while Pueblo's is 81 with median homes at $247,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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