Lincoln vs Sugar Land
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Lincoln
Sugar Land
The Verdict
Living in Lincoln costs 15.5% less than Sugar Land. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Lincoln, you would need $88,710 in Sugar Land.
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 $88,710 in Sugar Land.
Conversely, $75,000 in Sugar Land equals $63,409 in Lincoln.
Living in Lincoln vs Sugar Land
Housing Costs
Lincoln's housing index of 77 is lower Sugar Land's 128, translating to median home prices of $264,000 vs $456,000. The $192,000 difference in home prices means roughly $12,480 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,075/mo in Lincoln compared to $1,625/mo in Sugar Land, a monthly difference of $550.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 98 in Lincoln and 99 in Sugar Land. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $466/month in Lincoln vs $470/month in Sugar Land. 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 Sugar Land. Monthly utility bills average approximately $372 in Lincoln vs $384 in Sugar Land. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 102 in Lincoln and 96 in Sugar Land. 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 $128,400 in Sugar Land. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $77,312 and $116,727 respectively. Sugar Land 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 $2,996/month in Sugar Land. In Lincoln, median rent of $1,075/mo fits within this budget. In Sugar Land, median rent of $1,625/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 51 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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