Question 1

Is Lincoln or Saint Paul cheaper to live in?

Accepted Answer

Lincoln, NE is cheaper. Estimated essentials for a single person run about $372/month less than in Saint Paul, covering rent plus everyday costs. Typical rent is $1,141/mo in Lincoln versus $1,248/mo in Saint Paul.

Question 2

What salary do you need in Lincoln vs Saint Paul?

Accepted Answer

Living comfortably takes roughly $62,500/year before tax in Lincoln, NE and $71,000/year in Saint Paul, MN — a difference of about $8,500. Both figures are after state and local income taxes are accounted for.

Question 3

Is Lincoln or Saint Paul cheaper for a family?

Accepted Answer

Lincoln, the same answer as for a single person. Two adults with a pre-schooler and a school-age child run about $8,729/month in Lincoln and $10,204/month in Saint Paul, including county-median childcare.

Question 4

Should I move to Lincoln or Saint Paul?

Accepted Answer

It depends on what you weight. Lincoln costs less month to month, but cost is one of six factors — jobs, safety, climate, housing and amenities all differ too. Compare them against your own income and priorities rather than a single ranking.

Metric	Lincoln77	Saint Paul61
Est. monthly cost (single)	$3,462	$3,834
Est. monthly cost (family of 4, incl. childcare)	$8,729	$10,204
Salary for comfort	$62,500/yr	$71,000/yr
Typical rent	$1,141	$1,248
Median home value	$248,200	$280,300
Median household income	$69,991	$73,055
Unemployment	2.9%	4.4%
Housing score	85	77
Jobs score	90	37
Safety score	64	48
Climate score	84	61
Amenities score	27	47
Population	291.9K	307.8K
Summer high / winter low	89° / 14°	83° / 9°

Lincoln, NE vs Saint Paul, MN