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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

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You'd save $82.42/month moving to Columbus, OH

$150.0K in your current city equals $149.0K in Columbus, OH

Rent data from HUD ZIP-level estimates ยท COL index from area
Overall Cost
โ†“ 1.1%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$82.42
Savings
Annual Impact
$989
Per year

Based on monthly living costs (rent, groceries, utilities, transport, healthcare). Home purchase prices shown separately below.

Lincoln, NE

Population:295K
Cost Index:100
Median Home:$274K

Columbus, OH

Population:906K
Cost Index:99
Median Home:$263K

Lincoln, NE

The Cornhusker State

295K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Nebraska, this city has a population of 295K residents.

Columbus, OH

The Buckeye State

906K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Ohio, this city has a population of 906K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Annual spending: Lincoln, NE vs Columbus, OH

๐Ÿš—Transportation
โ†‘ 9.9%
Lincoln, NE
$1,243
Columbus, OH
$1,366
Difference
$123
more
๐ŸฅHealthcare
โ†“ 10.9%
Lincoln, NE
$682
Columbus, OH
$607
Difference
$74.35
less
๐Ÿ Housing
โ†“ 2.5%
Lincoln, NE
$2,105
Columbus, OH
$2,053
Difference
$51.97
less
๐Ÿ›’Groceries
โ†‘ 2.1%
Lincoln, NE
$949
Columbus, OH
$969
Difference
$19.99
more
๐Ÿ“ฆOther
โ†“ 1.1%
Lincoln, NE
$1,574
Columbus, OH
$1,557
Difference
$16.74
less
โšกAll Utilities
โ†“ 1.2%
Lincoln, NE
$470
Columbus, OH
$464
Difference
$5.46
less

๐Ÿ›๏ธ Local Income Taxes

Columbus, OH: Columbus Municipal Income Tax$3,750/yr (2.5%)

Lincoln, NE has no local income tax.

Local taxes are in addition to state income tax. Not all cities levy local income taxes.

๐Ÿ Rent Comparison

Studio
From$920
To$1,020
โ†‘ $100
1 Bed
From$1,000
To$1,100
โ†‘ $100
2 Bed
From$1,230
To$1,315
โ†‘ $85.00
3 Bed
From$1,705
To$1,575
โ†“ $130
Lincoln, NEZIP-level data

1BR range: $820โ€“$1,350/mo

Columbus, OHZIP-level data

1BR range: $870โ€“$1,790/mo

๐Ÿ’ก Note: Rent prices are based on HUD Fair Market Rent data and represent median costs. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,022
Monthly in Lincoln, NE
$7,017
Monthly in Columbus, OH
$5.60
Difference

Home Values

Lincoln
Columbus
$274K
Median Value
$263K
โ†‘ +3.8%
YoY Change
โ†“ -0.4%
โ†‘ +36%
5-Year Change
โ†‘ +28.8%
$194K - $575K
Price Range
$95K - $406K

Homes in Columbus are 4% less expensive than Lincoln

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
โ†‘ $4.9K
Per year
Monthly Difference
$409
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
3.3%
Rate difference

Lincoln, 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

Columbus, OH

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Ohio State Tax
Effective: 3.0%
$4.4K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 27.6%
$41.4K
Take-Home Pay
$9,047/month
$108.6K

Additional Tax Information

Lincoln, NE Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.0%
Property Tax:1.8%

Columbus, OH Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.2%
Property Tax:1.6%

๐Ÿ’ก 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

Lincoln
Columbus
41 Good
Air Quality
53 Moderate
83.7%
Good Air Days
41.3%
91 Moderate
Climate Risk
98 High
๐ŸŒช๐Ÿ’จ
Top Hazards
๐ŸŒŠ๐ŸŒก๐ŸŒช
โ–ฒ+3.3ยฐF
2050 Outlook
โ–ฒ+3.1ยฐF
38 days
Heat Days >95ยฐF
18 days
โ–ฒ+3.3ยฐF
2050 Outlook
โ–ฒ+3.1ยฐF
38 days
Heat Days >95ยฐF
18 days

๐Ÿ’ฐ See how taxes change too โ€” compare take-home pay between Nebraska and Ohio on TaxTakeHome.com

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