Cost of living in Nebraska
Prices in Nebraska are 9.9% below the US average (41st highest of 51). A single filer on $75,000 pays $2,533 in state income tax. State sales tax: 5.5%.
Price levels in Nebraska
| BEA RPP 2024 | Nebraska | vs US (100) |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 90.1 | −9.9% |
| Goods | 94.1 | −5.9% |
| Housing (rents) | 75.2 | −24.8% |
| Utilities | 75.6 | −24.4% |
| Other services | 93.0 | −7.0% |
Metros in Nebraska
Metros whose principal city is in Nebraska. “Left over” = a single renter earning $60,000, after 2026 taxes (including the principal city’s local tax) and modeled costs.
| Metro | Population | Price level | 2-BR FMR | Infant care / wk* | Left over / mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha, NE-IA | 1,009,836 | 91.9 | $1,450 | $244 | $1,286 |
| Lincoln, NE | 352,081 | 91.6 | $1,230 | $244 | $1,496 |
| Grand Island, NE | 78,076 | 86.7 | $1,210 | $187 | $1,533 |
*Center-based, DOL 2022 price for the metro’s principal county; a year in brackets marks an older latest-available price. “No data”: DOL publishes no price for that county, and childcare is left out of its budgets.
Also partly in Nebraska: Sioux City, IA-NE-SD.
Taxes in Nebraska (2026)
| Annual tax | Single, $50,000 | Single, $75,000 | Single, $120,000 | Couple, 2 kids, $120,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | $3,820 | $7,670 | $17,570 | $5,640 |
| Social Security + Medicare | $3,825 | $5,738 | $9,180 | $9,180 |
| Nebraska income tax | $1,395 | $2,533 | $4,580 | $3,349 |
| Nebraska payroll taxes | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Take-home pay / month | $3,413 | $4,922 | $7,389 | $8,486 |
Annual liability, standard deduction, Child Tax Credit; local income taxes are not included in this state-level table (see each metro). On $75,000, Nebraska’s income and payroll taxes cost $2,533 a year more than in a state without them (federal taxes are the same: $13,408).
Childcare prices across Nebraska
| Age band | Center, median county / wk (2022) | Center / yr today* | Home-based / wk (2022) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (under 2) | $187 | $11,903 | $108 |
| Toddler (2) | $178 | $11,283 | $113 |
| Preschool (3–4) | $163 | $10,329 | $115 |
| School-age (5–12) | $158 | $10,011 | $118 |
Center-based infant care ranges from $187 a week in York County to $244 in Dakota County (2022 prices).
DOL National Database of Childcare Prices, 2022; median across 93 counties with 2022 data. *52 weeks × 1.2224 BLS CPI for day care and preschool, 2022 average to 2026-08. Look up a county.
Property taxes by county
Effective rate = Census median real estate taxes ÷ median home value (ACS 2020-2024), metro-area counties.
| County | Median value | Median tax | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sarpy County | $314,100 | $5,473 | 1.74% |
| Douglas County | $266,100 | $4,507 | 1.69% |
| Dakota County | $185,700 | $2,854 | 1.54% |
| Lancaster County | $275,200 | $4,204 | 1.53% |
| Cass County | $254,900 | $3,652 | 1.43% |
| Hall County | $224,600 | $3,120 | 1.39% |
| Saunders County | $271,700 | $3,531 | 1.30% |
| Merrick County | $175,900 | $2,280 | 1.30% |
| Seward County | $241,300 | $2,850 | 1.18% |
| Howard County | $209,100 | $2,429 | 1.16% |
Five highest and five lowest of 11 counties.
Energy and fuel
EIA: electricity 2025, natural gas 2024, gasoline week ending 2026-10-05.
Who moves to and from Nebraska
Census state-to-state migration flows (2024 ACS 1-year; people 1 year and over, ± margin of error at 90%). Totals cover moves between states and DC only: 49,446 in, 48,085 out (net +1,361).
- Iowa6,626 ±1,928
- South Dakota4,055 ±2,381
- Florida3,970 ±1,955
- Colorado3,680 ±1,097
- California3,163 ±1,057
- New York2,654 ±1,712
- Texas2,391 ±1,151
- Arizona2,264 ±1,183
Frequently asked questions
Is Nebraska expensive to live in?+
BEA’s Regional Price Parities put Nebraska’s overall price level at 90.1 in 2024 (US = 100), the 41st highest of 51 states and DC. Housing is 75.2 and goods 94.1.
Does Nebraska have a state income tax?+
Yes. A single filer earning $75,000 owes about $2,533 in Nebraska income tax under 2026 law (3.4% of pay).
What is the sales tax in Nebraska?+
The state rate is 5.5% (as of 2026-10-13); groceries are exempt from the state rate. Local sales taxes can add to this.
What is the most affordable metro in Nebraska?+
For a single renter earning $60,000, Grand Island, NE leaves the most each month after taxes and modeled costs ($1,533), and Omaha, NE-IA the least ($1,286).