City Comparison

Lincoln vs Roseville

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Lincoln

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

Roseville

California
139
Expensive
$625,000
Median Home
$2,000/mo
Median Rent
$142,800
Median Income

The Verdict

33.1%

The cost gap between these cities is 33.1%, with Lincoln being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Lincoln has equivalent purchasing power to $112,097 in Roseville.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
77
Lincoln
179
Roseville
Groceries
98
Lincoln
105
Roseville
Utilities
93
Lincoln
163
Roseville
Transportation
97
Lincoln
134
Roseville
Healthcare
102
Lincoln
106
Roseville

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Lincoln has the same purchasing power as $112,097 in Roseville.

Conversely, $75,000 in Roseville equals $50,180 in Lincoln.

Living in Lincoln vs Roseville

Housing Costs

Lincoln's housing index of 77 is lower Roseville's 179, translating to median home prices of $264,000 vs $625,000. The $361,000 difference in home prices means roughly $23,460 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,075/mo in Lincoln compared to $2,000/mo in Roseville, a monthly difference of $925.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 98 in Lincoln and 105 in Roseville. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $466/month in Lincoln vs $499/month in Roseville. Lincoln offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $396/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 93 in Lincoln and 163 in Roseville. Monthly utility bills average approximately $372 in Lincoln vs $652 in Roseville. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 102 in Lincoln and 106 in Roseville. 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 $142,800 in Roseville. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $77,312 and $102,734 respectively. Roseville 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 $3,332/month in Roseville. In Lincoln, median rent of $1,075/mo fits within this budget. In Roseville, median rent of $2,000/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 102 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Lincoln is 33.1% more affordable overall with an index of 93 vs 139.
A $75,000 salary in Lincoln has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $112,097 in Roseville, based on the cost of living difference.
Lincoln's housing index is 77 with median homes at $264,000, while Roseville's is 179 with median homes at $625,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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