Median rent is 24% lower in Lincoln ($1,086/mo vs $1,421/mo). Buying is cheaper in Lincoln, where the median home runs $264,000 versus $374,800. Households earn more in Lincoln ($71,867 vs $70,991 a year).
City A
Fresno, CA
City B
Lincoln, NE
How much would you need to earn in Lincoln, NE to maintain your standard of living from Fresno, CA?
A cost-of-living index isn't available for one of these cities yet, so we can't compute an equivalent salary.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each metro area. This estimates overall purchasing power; it does not account for taxes or take-home pay differences.
Metric
Fresno
California
Lincoln
Nebraska
Population
Median Household Income
Annual
Median Gross Rent
Per month
Median Home Value
Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: Census ACS, BEA, HUD Fair Market Rents, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Renters will find significantly cheaper housing in Lincoln — median rent of $1,086/mo versus $1,421/mo in Fresno, a 24% difference. Home buyers face a steeper market in Fresno: the median home is $374,800 versus $264,000 in Lincoln — 30% more expensive.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
State tax data is not yet available for these cities.
Fresno
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Lincoln
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Lincoln has cleaner air on average: 32.0 AQI (Good) compared to 53.0 AQI (Moderate) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Pick Lincoln if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,086/mo median).
Pick Lincoln if you prioritize cleaner air quality (avg AQI 32.0).
Is Fresno cheaper than Lincoln?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Fresno vs Lincoln?
Median rent is $1,421/mo in Fresno, CA and $1,086/mo in Lincoln, NE. Lincoln, NE has the lower rent by about 24%.
Which has higher salaries — Fresno or Lincoln?
Median household income is $70,991 in Fresno, CA and $71,867 in Lincoln, NE. Lincoln, NE has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Which city has better air quality?
Lincoln, NE has better air quality on average: 32.0 AQI versus 53.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
Which has lower taxes — Fresno or Lincoln?
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
What salary do I need in Lincoln to match my Fresno income?
RPP data needed for salary equivalence calculation is not yet available.
Data last updated: December 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
