Lexington, NE vs Niles, MI: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Niles, MI has a modeled overall cost index 15.6% higher than Lexington, NE.

Lexington, NE · modeled 2BR rent
$1,040 / month
Niles, MI · modeled 2BR rent
$1,130 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Lexington, NE and Niles, MI using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

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Estimated extra cost: $1,428/month in Niles, MI

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $167,141 in Niles, MI

Regional cost estimates: Lexington, NE uses Lincoln, NE. Niles, MI uses Chicago, IL. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 15.6%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$1,428
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$17.1K
Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Lexington, NE

Population:11K
Cost Index:
76.9
100 = national average
Typical Home:$200K

Niles, MI

Population:12K
Cost Index:
88.9
100 = national average
Typical Home:$195K

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Lexington, NE

The Cornhusker State

11K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Nebraska, this city has a population of 11K residents.

Niles, MI

The Great Lakes State

12K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Michigan, this city has a population of 12K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Lexington, NE vs Niles, MI

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Housing
↑ 41.7%
Lexington, NE
$2,031
Niles, MI
$2,878
Difference
$847
more
Transportation
↑ 31.5%
Lexington, NE
$1,333
Niles, MI
$1,752
Difference
$420
more
Other
↑ 8.7%
Lexington, NE
$1,687
Niles, MI
$1,833
Difference
$146
more
Healthcare
↓ 13.9%
Lexington, NE
$795
Niles, MI
$684
Difference
$111
less
Groceries
↑ 6.9%
Lexington, NE
$1,107
Niles, MI
$1,184
Difference
$76.80
more
All Utilities
↑ 9.0%
Lexington, NE
$548
Niles, MI
$597
Difference
$49.06
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$720
To$800
↑ $80.00
1 Bed
From$920
To$900
↓ $20.00
2 Bed
From$1,040
To$1,130
↑ $90.00
3 Bed
From$1,320
To$1,470
↑ $150
Lexington, NEZIP-level data

1BR range: $920–$920/mo

Niles, MIZIP-level data

1BR range: $900–$900/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500
Monthly in Lexington, NE
$8,928
Monthly in Niles, MI
$1,428
Difference

Home Values

Lexington
Niles
$200K
Median Value
$195K
↑ +4.1%
YoY Change
↑ +2.7%
↑ +36.4%
5-Year Change
↑ +26.3%

Homes in Niles are 2% less expensive than Lexington

Calculate payment - LexingtonCalculate payment - Niles

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $3.0K
Per year
Monthly Difference
$247
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
2.0%
Rate difference

Lexington, NE

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Nebraska State Tax
Effective: 6.2%
$9.3K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 30.9%
$46.3K
Take-Home Pay
$8,638/month
$103.7K

Niles, MI

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Michigan State Tax
Effective: 4.3%
$6.4K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 28.9%
$43.4K
Take-Home Pay
$8,884/month
$106.6K

Additional Tax Information

Lexington, NE Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.0%
Property Tax:1.8%

Niles, MI Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.0%
Property Tax:1.4%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Lexington
Niles
41 Good
Air Quality
54 Moderate
83.7%
Good Air Days
35.8%
91 Moderate
Climate Risk
100 Very High
🌪💨
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🫨
▲+3.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.2°F
38 days
Heat Days >95°F
18 days
▲+3.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.2°F
38 days
Heat Days >95°F
18 days

Before moving from Lexington, NE to Niles, MI

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Niles, MI for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Lexington, NE. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
  3. Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Lexington to Niles moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Niles, MI by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Lexington, NE vs Niles, MI

How do the cost estimates for Lexington, NE and Niles, MI compare?

Niles, MI has a modeled overall cost index 15.6% higher than Lexington, NE. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Lexington, NE, the model estimates $167,141 in Niles, MI. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Lexington, NE and Niles, MI?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,040/month in Lexington, NE and $1,130/month in Niles, MI. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Nebraska and Michigan on TaxTakeHome.com

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