Scottsbluff, NE Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

Cost Of Living In Scottsbluff, NE Summary

Cost of living in Scottsbluff research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Scottsbluff is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in Nebraska, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Scottsbluff is 89, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Scottsbluff is 0.9x lower than the national average.

  • Scottsbluff ranks as the #14 cheapest in Nebraska out of 34.

  • Scottsbluff ranks as the #1,060 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Scottsbluff is $181,223.

  • The median income in Scottsbluff is $53,448.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
89
Scottsbluff's Overall Cost Of Living
0.9x
Lower Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Scottsbluff, NE?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Scottsbluff has an overall cost of living index of 89, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.

Compared to Nebraska, Scottsbluff has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Nebraska's index of 89.

The standard of living in Scottsbluff ranks as #14 most affordable out of the 34 places we measured in Nebraska. By definition, that implies Scottsbluff ranks as the #20 most expensive place in the Cornhusker State.

For more reading on life in Scottsbluff, check out:

14 out of 34
In Nebraska
1,060 out of 6,489
In America

Scottsbluff Cost Of Living Vs. Nebraska

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Scottsbluff. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Scottsbluff is 100.

  • The Groceries index in Scottsbluff is 104.

  • The Health index in Scottsbluff is 104.

  • The Housing index in Scottsbluff is 70.

  • The Transportation index in Scottsbluff is 98.

  • The Utilities index in Scottsbluff is 89.

Living Expense Scottsbluff Nebraska National Average
Overall 89 89 100
Services 100 94 100
Groceries 104 97 100
Health 104 99 100
Housing 70 77 100
Transportation 98 100 100
Utilities 89 86 100
For more reading on cost of living around Nebraska, check out:
Scottsbluff Cost of Living Vs. NE

Scottsbluff, 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 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Scottsbluff is $181,223.

  • The Median Rent in Scottsbluff is $966.

  • The Median Income in Scottsbluff is $53,448.

  • The Home Value To Income in Scottsbluff is 3.4x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Scottsbluff is 0.22x.

Statistic Scottsbluff Nebraska United States
Median Home Value $181,223 $272,244 $303,400
Median Rent $966 $1,035 $1,348
Median Income $53,448 $74,985 $78,538
Home Value To Income 3.4x 3.6x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.22x 0.17x 0.21x
$181,223
Median Home Value
$966
Median Rent
$53,448
Median Income

Scottsbluff, NE Costs By Category

Detailed Scottsbluff Services Costs Vs. Nebraska

Item Scottsbluff Nebraska
Shampoo $1.23 $1.28
Movie $10.98 $12.13
Bowling $15.17 $18
Haircut $28.69 $24.26
Beauty Salon $33.98 $45.56

Detailed Scottsbluff Groceries Costs Vs. Nebraska

Item Scottsbluff Nebraska
Ground Beef $5.98 $5.84
Fried Chicken $1.41 $1.57
Milk $4.67 $4.67
Potatoes $4.44 $4.93
Pizza $12.23 $12.09
Beer $10.49 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.63 $3.7

Detailed Scottsbluff Health Costs Vs. Nebraska

Item Scottsbluff Nebraska
Optometrist $191.47 $125.68
Doctor $140.63 $135.78
Dentist $107.16 $113.29

Detailed Scottsbluff Transportation Costs Vs. Nebraska

Item Scottsbluff Nebraska
Gasoline $3.32 $3.46
Tire Balancing $59.3 $59.92

Detailed Scottsbluff Utilities Costs Vs. Nebraska

Item Scottsbluff Nebraska
All Electricity $154.32 $193.99
Phone $187.74 $192.25

Scottsbluff SnackAbility

6
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
6/10
Housing
6
Affordability
8
Diversity
8.5
Safety
4
Amenities
8.5
Education
7
Commute
10

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Scottsbluff

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Scottsbluff. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Gering, NE has a cost of living index of 93, 1.0x Scottsbluff.

  • Alliance, NE has a cost of living index of 89, 1.0x Scottsbluff.

  • Torrington, WY has a cost of living index of 96, 1.1x Scottsbluff.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Scottsbluff
Gering, NE 8,567 93 1.0x
Alliance, NE 8,089 89 1.0x
Torrington, WY 6,174 96 1.1x

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