What is the cost of living in Lincoln, IL?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Lincoln has an overall cost of living index of 88, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Illinois, Lincoln has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Illinois's index of 98.
The standard of living in Lincoln ranks as #52 most affordable out of the 336 places we measured in Illinois. By definition, that implies Lincoln ranks as the #284 most expensive place in the Prairie State.
For more reading on life in Lincoln, check out:
Lincoln Cost Of Living Vs. Illinois
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Lincoln. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Lincoln is 98.
The Groceries index in Lincoln is 102.
The Health index in Lincoln is 60.
The Housing index in Lincoln is 100.
The Transportation index in Lincoln is 100.
The Utilities index in Lincoln is 100.
| Living Expense | Lincoln | Illinois | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 88 | 98 | 100 |
| Services | 98 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 102 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 60 | 96 | 100 |
| Housing | 100 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 100 | 99 | 100 |
| Utilities | 100 | 101 | 100 |
Lincoln Cost Of Living Compared To Illinois Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Illinois, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Lincoln Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Lincoln, IL Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Illinois, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Lincoln is $130,596.
The Median Rent in Lincoln is $828.
The Median Income in Lincoln is $57,340.
The Home Value To Income in Lincoln is 2.3x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Lincoln is 0.17x.
Lincoln, IL Costs By Category
Detailed Lincoln Services costs vs. Illinois
Detailed Lincoln Groceries costs vs. Illinois
Detailed Lincoln Health costs vs. Illinois
Detailed Lincoln Transportation costs vs. Illinois
Lincoln SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Lincoln
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Lincoln. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Springfield, IL has a cost of living index of 93, 1.1x Lincoln.
Bloomington, IL has a cost of living index of 95, 1.1x Lincoln.
Normal, IL has a cost of living index of 96, 1.1x Lincoln.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|
| Springfield, IL | 113,330 | 93 | 1.1x |
| Bloomington, IL | 78,907 | 95 | 1.1x |
| Normal, IL | 53,569 | 96 | 1.1x |
| East Peoria, IL | 22,324 | 93 | 1.1x |
| Morton, IL | 16,595 | 103 | 1.2x |
| Washington, IL | 15,919 | 102 | 1.2x |
| Chatham, IL | 14,639 | 103 | 1.2x |
| Middletown, KY | 9,763 | 108 | 1.2x |
| Monticello, IL | 6,304 | 97 | 1.1x |
| Mount Zion, IL | 5,660 | 92 | 1.0x |
