St. Louis vs Lincoln: Cost of Living (2026)
A side-by-side comparison of St. Louis, MO and Lincoln, NE, using US Census Bureau data.
| Metric | St. Louis, MO | Lincoln, NE |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 298,018 | 290,531 |
| Median household income | $52,941 | $67,846 |
| Median home value | $174,100 | $230,400 |
| Median rent (/mo) | $938 | $998 |
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.
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compare-top (set NEXT_PUBLIC_ADSENSE_CLIENT to serve real ads)Comparing St. Louis, MO and Lincoln, NE comes down to what you value most. St. Louis has the lower median home value, and St. Louis has the lower median rent.
Lincoln has the higher median household income, which affects how far a paycheck stretches against local housing costs. The table below breaks down the key numbers side by side, all sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Frequently asked questions
- Is it cheaper to live in St. Louis or Lincoln?
- By median home value, St. Louis is the cheaper of the two ($174,100 vs $230,400). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
- Which has higher salaries, St. Louis or Lincoln?
- Median household income is $52,941 in St. Louis versus $67,846 in Lincoln, per the US Census Bureau.