If you’re on the hunt for the cheapest places to live in Nebraska, then this guide has got you covered.
In our research of the most budget-friendly places in the Cornhusker State, we used Saturday Night Science and data from the Nebraska Census on the cost of living, home prices, and incomes. The data shows that Nebraska’s lowest cost of living areas are plentiful and thriving due to ample job opportunities and solid wages.
After you find your slice of affordable Nebraska, you’ll be all set to grab a top-end steak with Warren Buffett in Bentonville.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Table | FAQs | Summary
The 10 most affordable places to live in Nebraska
What’s the most affordable place to live in Nebraska? The most affordable place in the Cornhusker State is Crete.
Now you’re ready to learn what 1.9 million Nebraskans already know. Those extra bucks in your pocket let you visit Carhenge in Alliance or catch an astronomy show at the Strategic Air and Space Museum in Ashland — some of the most affordable fun in Nebraska.
Check out some more reading about Nebraska and the cheapest places in the country:
The 10 Cheapest Places To Live In Nebraska For 2026
/10
Population: 7,527
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 85
Median Income: $77,209
Median Home Price: $238,975
Median Rent: $936
While Crete may be the least affordable place for renters on this list, the city makes up for it other ways. Like by having the 17th cheapest homes for sale in Nebraska, at a median price of $238,975. Or by having the seventh best home price to income ratio statewide. And it’s hard to put a price on being named the best place to raise a family in Nebraska.
Crete is just a short drive southwest of Lincoln.
More on Crete: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
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Population: 7,314
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 85
Median Income: $56,917
Median Home Price: $177,178
Median Rent: $823
Ranking as our second most affordable place to live in Nebraska is McCook, a small city in the southwestern part of the state. McCook scored an 8/10 on our overall Snackability score, so you know they’ve got you covered on low unemployment, good schools, short commutes, and awesome amenities like the Heritage Hills Golf Course. And the great news doesn’t stop there; you can get a home in McCook for $177,178, the third cheapest price in Nebraska. And with a median income of $56,917, McCook has the eighth lowest home price to income ratio in the state.
More on Mccook: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
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Population: 6,578
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 85
Median Income: $80,399
Median Home Price: $230,809
Median Rent: $1,049
If you’re looking for the absolute cheapest place to live in Nebraska, look no further than Schuyler, a city an hour north of Lincoln. What makes Schuyler so affordable? Well, Schuyler has the 15th least expensive homes for sale in Nebraska, with a median price tag of $230,809. Even more importantly, with a median income of $80,399, Schuyler has the third best home price to income ratio in the state. If you’re looking to lock down a job before making the move, the Cargill beef processing plant is the city’s largest employer.
More on Schuyler: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
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Population: 7,369
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 87
Median Income: $67,117
Median Home Price: $201,347
Median Rent: $947
Nebraska City is a fantastic choice for those seeking an affordable and comfortable life in Nebraska. With a median home value of $201,347 and a median rent of $947, it’s clear that housing costs are very reasonable.
Nebraska City has an overall cost of living index of 87, which means that other expenses like groceries and utilities are also quite reasonable. Plus, with an unemployment rate of only 1.38, residents can feel confident they’ll keep their job.
More on Nebraska City: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
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Population: 12,225
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 88
Median Income: $57,264
Median Home Price: $182,538
Median Rent: $758
Situated about 40 miles south of Lincoln, Beatrice ranks as the fifth most affordable place in Nebraska. Visitors come from far and wide to enjoy Beatrice’s Homestead National Monument, but those who stick around find there’s a lot more here to do here.
Like taking a stroll down the gorgeous Chief Standing Bear Trail, or spending a day fishing and night camping on Rockford Lake.
If you want to try Beatrice out without too much commitment, you’re in luck because it has the second cheapest median rent in Nebraska at $758. Homes are also quite inexpensive, with a median price of $182,538 – that’s the fifth lowest anywhere in the state.
For someone who likes the quiet and life and the great outdoors, Beatrice offers a high quality of life for a low cost of living.
More on Beatrice: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
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Population: 6,121
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 88
Median Income: $53,702
Median Home Price: $234,128
Median Rent: $792
Wayne is a city in Wayne County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 5,660 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Wayne County and the home of Wayne State College.
More on Wayne: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
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Population: 5,160
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 88
Median Income: $54,590
Median Home Price: $193,553
Median Rent: $881
Chadron is a city in Dawes County, in the state of Nebraska in the Great Plains region of the United States. The population was 5,851 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Dawes County, and the location of Chadron State College.
More on Chadron: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
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Population: 6,419
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 89
Median Income: $54,734
Median Home Price: $168,006
Median Rent: $819
Located in the Nebraska Panhandle just north of the Colorado border, Sidney comes in as the eighth cheapest place to live in the state. The median home price in Sidney is $168,006 and the median income is $54,734. That means that Sidney’s population pays the sixth smallest proportion of their income on homes statewide. At $819/month, the rent in Sidney is also super affordable. Those looking to learn more about the city’s ties to the rugged frontier days on the late 19th century will definitely want to pay a visit to the Fort Sidney Museum.
More on Sidney: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
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Population: 25,008
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 90
Median Income: $64,048
Median Home Price: $200,240
Median Rent: $858
Hastings, 40 mins southwest of Omaha, made it onto the list of the least expensive cities in Nebraska.
Hastings was in rush to prove it’s affordability. It has a $200,240 average home price and a manageable 90 overall cost of living index is 1 points lower than the state average.
More on Hastings: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
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Population: 13,907
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 90
Median Income: $68,223
Median Home Price: $228,788
Median Rent: $1,127
South Sioux City is more than just a sibilant-heavy tongue-twister; it’s also the tenth least expensive place in Nebraska. Homes in South Sioux City are the 12th most affordable statewide, with a median price of $228,788. Renters also get the 30th best deal in Nebraska. If you do decide to settle down here, we recommend visiting Siouxland Freedom Park for relaxing picnic beside the Missouri River.
South Sioux City is located just south of Sioux City, Iowa.
More on South Sioux City: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Cheapest places to live in Nebraska FAQs
The county in Nebraska with the lowest cost of living is Brown County. The average living wage in Brown County is $85,784 according to MIT data. Brown County has the lowest cost of living because it has relatively less expensive childcare and housing costs compared to Nebraska as a whole. Childcare costs $13,983 a year in Brown County for two children compared to the Nebraska average of $15,649. Housing costs, defined as a blend of the average rent and average mortgage payment, are $8,808 per year in Brown County compared to $10,488 on average in Nebraska.
The cost of living in Nebraska is 0.2% lower than the US average. According to MIT, the required living wage for a family of four with two working parents in Nebraska is $89,596 vs the national average for a family of four with two working parents of $89,744. The median income of a Nebraska household is $63,015.
The cheapest housing market in Nebraska is Schuyler. The average home value in Schuyler is $87,700, the lowest in the state. The average home value in Nebraska is $164,000, almost 1.9 times higher than Schuyler.
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The county in Nebraska with the lowest cost of living is Brown County. The average living wage in Brown County is $85,784 according to MIT data. Brown County has the lowest cost of living because it has relatively less expensive childcare and housing costs compared to Nebraska as a whole. Childcare costs $13,983 a year in Brown County for two children compared to the Nebraska average of $15,649. Housing costs, defined as a blend of the average rent and average mortgage payment, are $8,808 per year in Brown County compared to $10,488 on average in Nebraska.
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Methodology: How we determined the most affordable places to live in the Cornhusker State for 2026
Determining affordability for places in Nebraska boils down to how much it costs to live here.
You need to understand your costs relative to what people in the rest of the state are paying.
With that logic in mind, we derived several cost of living statistics from the latest Census American Community Survey 2020-2024 for Nebraska using Saturday Night Science. We indexed the cost of living statistics across the following categories:
- Housing
- Transportation
- Services
- Groceries
- Healthcare
- Utilities
These are then weighted together to produce an overall cost of living index where 100 is the United States average. Anything below 100 is relatively affordable. Anything over 100 is relatively expensive.
We applied the biggest weight to housing as it typically accounts for 25% or more of your budget. Additionally, housing costs are the highest variant cost across a state. We then compare these cost of living metrics for each place in Nebraska to figure out which is the least expensive.
The “Cost of Living Index” allows you to rank all of the 32 places in Nebraska that have more than 5,000 people from least expensive to most expensive. Any ties went to the larger city.
The place in Nebraska with the lowest cost of living according to the data is Crete.
We updated this article for 2026. This report reflects our eleventh time ranking the cheapest places to live in Nebraska.
Nebraska Affordabilility Summary
This is an accurate list of the most affordable places to live in Nebraska for 2026, if you’re looking at the cost of living numbers in Nebraska.
The cheapest cities in Nebraska are Crete, McCook, Schuyler, Nebraska City, Beatrice, Wayne, Chadron, Sidney, Hastings, and South Sioux City.
Here’s a look at the most expensive cities in Nebraska according to the data:
- Papillion
- Gretna
- Kearney
For more Nebraska reading, check out:
Cheapest Places To Live In Nebraska
| Rank | City | Population | Cost Of Living Index | Median Income | Home Prices | Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Crete | 7,527 | 85 | $77,209 | $238,975 | $936 |
| 2 | McCook | 7,314 | 85 | $56,917 | $177,178 | $823 |
| 3 | Schuyler | 6,578 | 85 | $80,399 | $230,809 | $1,049 |
| 4 | Nebraska City | 7,369 | 87 | $67,117 | $201,347 | $947 |
| 5 | Beatrice | 12,225 | 88 | $57,264 | $182,538 | $758 |
| 6 | Wayne | 6,121 | 88 | $53,702 | $234,128 | $792 |
| 7 | Chadron | 5,160 | 88 | $54,590 | $193,553 | $881 |
| 8 | Sidney | 6,419 | 89 | $54,734 | $168,006 | $819 |
| 9 | Hastings | 25,008 | 90 | $64,048 | $200,240 | $858 |
| 10 | South Sioux City | 13,907 | 90 | $68,223 | $228,788 | $1,127 |
| 11 | North Platte | 22,831 | 91 | $58,097 | $208,704 | $921 |
| 12 | Lexington | 10,862 | 91 | $67,666 | $205,386 | $966 |
| 13 | York | 8,141 | 91 | $63,265 | $219,747 | $862 |
| 14 | Plattsmouth | 6,731 | 91 | $73,929 | $306,415 | $941 |
| 15 | Columbus | 24,488 | 92 | $64,626 | $269,083 | $892 |
| 16 | Alliance | 8,075 | 92 | $65,160 | $173,240 | $694 |
| 17 | Holdrege | 5,546 | 92 | $55,789 | $194,781 | $835 |
| 18 | Grand Island | 52,884 | 93 | $63,795 | $252,574 | $947 |
| 19 | Norfolk | 26,054 | 93 | $58,884 | $256,016 | $875 |
| 20 | Scottsbluff | 14,376 | 93 | $56,359 | $179,640 | $966 |
| 21 | Gering | 8,550 | 94 | $75,093 | $209,550 | $823 |
| 22 | Bellevue | 64,510 | 95 | $85,462 | $297,049 | $1,226 |
| 23 | Fremont | 27,567 | 95 | $71,152 | $253,065 | $1,080 |
| 24 | Blair | 7,914 | 95 | $81,452 | $351,844 | $937 |
| 25 | Seward | 7,678 | 95 | $72,564 | $307,287 | $1,018 |
| 26 | Lincoln | 294,856 | 96 | $71,867 | $291,062 | $1,086 |
| 27 | Ralston | 6,472 | 96 | $69,403 | $264,641 | $1,215 |
| 28 | La Vista | 16,563 | 98 | $81,961 | $307,596 | $1,317 |
| 29 | Omaha | 488,837 | 100 | $73,201 | $294,188 | $1,187 |
| 30 | Kearney | 34,246 | 100 | $69,724 | $309,677 | $949 |
| 31 | Gretna | 9,193 | 100 | $123,992 | $425,558 | $1,540 |
| 32 | Papillion | 25,244 | 102 | $111,679 | $409,004 | $1,269 |