What is the cost of living in Kearney, NE?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Kearney has an overall cost of living index of 100, which is 1.0x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Nebraska, Kearney has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Nebraska's index of 89.
The standard of living in Kearney ranks as #31 most affordable out of the 34 places we measured in Nebraska. By definition, that implies Kearney ranks as the #3 most expensive place in the Cornhusker State.
For more reading on life in Kearney, check out:
Kearney Cost Of Living Vs. Nebraska
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Kearney. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Kearney is 99.
The Groceries index in Kearney is 98.
The Health index in Kearney is 98.
The Housing index in Kearney is 99.
The Transportation index in Kearney is 94.
The Utilities index in Kearney is 102.
| Living Expense | Kearney | Nebraska | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 100 | 89 | 100 |
| Services | 99 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 98 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 98 | 77 | 100 |
| Housing | 99 | 99 | 100 |
| Transportation | 94 | 98 | 100 |
| Utilities | 102 | 96 | 100 |
Kearney Cost Of Living Compared To Nebraska Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Nebraska, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Kearney Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Kearney, NE Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Nebraska, 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 Kearney is $309,677.
The Median Rent in Kearney is $949.
The Median Income in Kearney is $69,724.
The Home Value To Income in Kearney is 4.4x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Kearney is 0.16x.
Kearney, NE Costs By Category
Detailed Kearney Services costs vs. Nebraska
Detailed Kearney Groceries costs vs. Nebraska
Detailed Kearney Health costs vs. Nebraska
Detailed Kearney Transportation costs vs. Nebraska
Kearney SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Kearney
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Kearney. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Mason, OH has a cost of living index of 117, 1.2x Kearney.
Hastings, NE has a cost of living index of 90, 0.9x Kearney.
Holdrege, NE has a cost of living index of 92, 0.9x Kearney.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Kearney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mason, OH | 35,509 | 117 | 1.2x |
| Hastings, NE | 25,008 | 90 | 0.9x |
| Holdrege, NE | 5,546 | 92 | 0.9x |
