Lincoln vs Wichita
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Lincoln
Wichita
The Verdict
Wichita is 10.7% less expensive than Lincoln overall. A household earning $75,000 in Lincoln would need approximately $67,742 in Wichita to maintain the same standard of living.
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 $67,742 in Wichita.
Conversely, $75,000 in Wichita equals $83,036 in Lincoln.
Living in Lincoln vs Wichita
Housing Costs
Lincoln's housing index of 77 is higher Wichita's 62, translating to median home prices of $264,000 vs $165,000. The $99,000 difference in home prices means roughly $6,432 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,075/mo in Lincoln compared to $900/mo in Wichita, a monthly difference of $175.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 98 in Lincoln and 95 in Wichita. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $466/month in Lincoln vs $451/month in Wichita. 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 93 in Wichita. Monthly utility bills average approximately $372 in Lincoln vs $372 in Wichita. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 102 in Lincoln and 92 in Wichita. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 10-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $71,900 in Lincoln and $52,428 in Wichita. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $77,312 and $62,414 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 $1,223/month in Wichita. In Lincoln, median rent of $1,075/mo fits within this budget. In Wichita, median rent of $900/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 15 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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