What is the cost of living in Ralston, NE?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Ralston has an overall cost of living index of 96, which is 1.0x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Nebraska, Ralston has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Nebraska's index of 89.
The standard of living in Ralston ranks as #27 most affordable out of the 34 places we measured in Nebraska. By definition, that implies Ralston ranks as the #7 most expensive place in the Cornhusker State.
For more reading on life in Ralston, check out:
Ralston Cost Of Living Vs. Nebraska
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Ralston. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Ralston is 98.
The Groceries index in Ralston is 100.
The Health index in Ralston is 85.
The Housing index in Ralston is 101.
The Transportation index in Ralston is 96.
The Utilities index in Ralston is 93.
| Living Expense | Ralston | Nebraska | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 96 | 89 | 100 |
| Services | 98 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 100 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 85 | 77 | 100 |
| Housing | 101 | 99 | 100 |
| Transportation | 96 | 98 | 100 |
| Utilities | 93 | 96 | 100 |
Ralston 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 Ralston Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Ralston, 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 Ralston is $264,641.
The Median Rent in Ralston is $1,215.
The Median Income in Ralston is $69,403.
The Home Value To Income in Ralston is 3.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Ralston is 0.21x.
Ralston, NE Costs By Category
Detailed Ralston Services costs vs. Nebraska
Detailed Ralston Groceries costs vs. Nebraska
Detailed Ralston Health costs vs. Nebraska
Detailed Ralston Transportation costs vs. Nebraska
Ralston SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Ralston
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Ralston. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Omaha, NE has a cost of living index of 100, 1.0x Ralston.
Bellevue, NE has a cost of living index of 95, 1.0x Ralston.
Papillion, NE has a cost of living index of 102, 1.1x Ralston.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Ralston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha, NE | 488,837 | 100 | 1.0x |
| Bellevue, NE | 64,510 | 95 | 1.0x |
| Papillion, NE | 25,244 | 102 | 1.1x |
| La Vista, NE | 16,563 | 98 | 1.0x |
| Chalco, NE | 10,595 | 95 | 1.0x |
| Gretna, NE | 9,193 | 100 | 1.0x |
| Plattsmouth, NE | 6,731 | 91 | 0.9x |
| Offutt AFB, NE | 6,074 | 108 | 1.1x |
| Glenwood, IA | 5,144 | 93 | 1.0x |








