Springfield, MO vs Lincoln, NE: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Lincoln, NE has a modeled overall cost index 3.6% higher than Springfield, MO.

Springfield, MO · modeled 2BR rent
$1,100 / month
Lincoln, NE · modeled 2BR rent
$1,230 / 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

Adjust your income and compare the budget ↓
Tap to swap

Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Springfield, MO and Lincoln, NE 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

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $393/month in Lincoln, NE

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $154,715 in Lincoln, NE

Regional cost estimates: Springfield, MO uses Kansas City, MO. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 3.6%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$393
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$4.7K
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.

Springfield, MO

Population:170K
Cost Index:
87.9
100 = national average
Typical Home:$226K

Lincoln, NE

Population:295K
Cost Index:
91.0
100 = national average
Typical Home:$274K

Planning the move to Lincoln?

Organize packing, address changes, and moving-day tasks with a free checklist. Your progress saves in this browser. No account needed.

Plan my move with the free checklist

Springfield, MO

The Show-Me State

170K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Missouri, this city has a population of 170K residents.

Lincoln, NE

The Cornhusker State

295K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Springfield, MO vs Lincoln, NE

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
↑ 13.8%
Springfield, MO
$2,079
Lincoln, NE
$2,366
Difference
$287
more
Healthcare
↑ 13.6%
Springfield, MO
$674
Lincoln, NE
$766
Difference
$91.69
more
All Utilities
↓ 11.2%
Springfield, MO
$595
Lincoln, NE
$528
Difference
$66.54
less
Transportation
↑ 4.7%
Springfield, MO
$1,334
Lincoln, NE
$1,397
Difference
$63.03
more
Groceries
↑ 1.2%
Springfield, MO
$1,054
Lincoln, NE
$1,067
Difference
$12.69
more
Other
↑ 0.3%
Springfield, MO
$1,764
Lincoln, NE
$1,769
Difference
$5.09
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$880
To$920
↑ $40.00
1 Bed
From$890
To$1,000
↑ $110
2 Bed
From$1,100
To$1,230
↑ $130
3 Bed
From$1,500
To$1,705
↑ $205
Springfield, MOZIP-level data

1BR range: $790–$1,020/mo

Lincoln, NEZIP-level data

1BR range: $820–$1,350/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 Springfield, MO
$7,893
Monthly in Lincoln, NE
$393
Difference

Home Values

Springfield
Lincoln
$226K
Median Value
$274K
↑ +1.2%
YoY Change
↑ +3.8%
↑ +44.6%
5-Year Change
↑ +36%
$132K - $434K
Price Range
$194K - $575K

Homes in Lincoln are 21% more expensive than Springfield

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $1.4K
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$117
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.9%
Rate difference

Springfield, MO

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Missouri State Tax
Effective: 5.3%
$7.9K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 30.0%
$44.9K
Take-Home Pay
$8,755/month
$105.1K

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

Additional Tax Information

Springfield, MO Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.2%
Property Tax:1.0%

Lincoln, NE Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.0%
Property Tax:1.8%

💡 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.

🚶 Walkability

Modeled road attributes, not a safety assessment. Methodology and limitations

Environment

Springfield
Lincoln
46 Good
Air Quality
41 Good
59.3%
Good Air Days
83.7%
97 High
Climate Risk
91 Moderate
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌪💨
▲+3.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.3°F
44 days
Heat Days >95°F
38 days
▲+3.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.3°F
44 days
Heat Days >95°F
38 days

Before moving from Springfield, MO to Lincoln, NE

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Lincoln, NE for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Springfield, MO. 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 Springfield to Lincoln moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Springfield, MO vs Lincoln, NE

How do the cost estimates for Springfield, MO and Lincoln, NE compare?

Lincoln, NE has a modeled overall cost index 3.6% higher than Springfield, MO. 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 Springfield, MO, the model estimates $154,715 in Lincoln, NE. 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 Springfield, MO and Lincoln, NE?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,100/month in Springfield, MO and $1,230/month in Lincoln, NE. 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 Missouri and Nebraska on TaxTakeHome.com

Similar cost to Lincoln, NE

Other cities in a similar price range

Want to compare different cities?

New Comparison