City Comparison

Lincoln vs Sugar Land

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Lincoln

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

Sugar Land

Texas
110
Above Average
$456,000
Median Home
$1,625/mo
Median Rent
$128,400
Median Income

The Verdict

15.5%

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

Housing
77
Lincoln
128
Sugar Land
Groceries
98
Lincoln
99
Sugar Land
Utilities
93
Lincoln
96
Sugar Land
Transportation
97
Lincoln
101
Sugar Land
Healthcare
102
Lincoln
96
Sugar Land

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

Lincoln is 15.5% more affordable overall with an index of 93 vs 110.
A $75,000 salary in Lincoln has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $88,710 in Sugar Land, based on the cost of living difference.
Lincoln's housing index is 77 with median homes at $264,000, while Sugar Land's is 128 with median homes at $456,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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