A+
16%
Overall NAT. AVG.
10%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
30%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Lexington Nebraska National
Cost of living8489100
Goods & Services9096100
Groceries9396100
Health care9798100
Housing7076100
Transportation96100100
Utilities8086100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Lexington, NE

Knowing the cost of living in Lexington allows individuals to create a realistic budget. This helps them understand how their income will cover expenses and whether they need to make financial adjustments. The cost of living in any region can fluctuate due to various factors. To assess the cost of living consistently across different areas, a national average of 100 serves as the basis for the cost of living index. The cost of living in Lexington stands at 84, marking it 16% lower than the national average.

Is Lexington Affordable?

Is Lexington an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Lexington, the median home price is 38% lower than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 11.8% lower than the usual rates. Income levels in Lexington come in at $55,913, which is 1.1% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Lexington?

Healthcare: The costs associated with healthcare and insurance premiums can exhibit notable disparities based on the city or state of residence. Access to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for medical appointments, dental care charges, prescription medication costs and specialized medical care expenses all contribute to variations in the cost of living. In Lexington, healthcare costs are 2.6% lower than the national average.

Housing: A sought-after location with high housing demand often leads to increased property values and rental rates, which can significantly inflate the overall cost of living. Conversely, areas with low housing demand, particularly in less desirable locales, tend to experience the opposite effect, causing prices to drop and contributing to a more affordable cost of living. In Lexington, the housing index stands at 30.1% lower than the national average.

Transportation: When public transportation options are limited or non-existent, residents frequently resort to vehicle ownership, which can significantly contribute to the overall cost of living. Monthly financial obligations encompass fuel, insurance, regular maintenance and potentially lease or financing expenses. In Lexington, the transportation index is 4.3% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living in Lexington, presented above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index, offering a practical method for assessing living cost disparities in urban areas. Published quarterly, this index compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services in 6 categories. The weightings assigned to cost variances are informed by government survey data tracking the expenditure patterns of professional and executive households. It should be noted that the C2ER index does not include data on sales or income tax rates, however, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each area.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Lexington is 6% lower than the Nebraska average
  • The cost of living in Lexington is 16% lower than the national average
  • Lexington housing is 30% lower than the national average
  • Nebraska general sales tax is 8% higher than the national average
  • Nebraska state income tax is 5% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Lexington

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Compare Lexington, NE Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$64,855$5,405$1,513$1,946
      Renters$41,510$3,459$969$1,245
      A good way to judge both the affordability of the housing and the cost of living in Lexington is by simply calculating the maximum that should be spent on housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The plan is to avoid spending more than 28 percent of the gross income on costs that pertain to housing and no more than 36 percent on all expenses and debts. Lexington has a median income of about $64,855 for people who own homes. Based on that number, a maximum of $1,513 should be spent on expenses related to housing. Renters have a slightly different median income, which is $41,510. Based on this average, renters should spend no more than $969 on all rental costs if they want to maintain a non-impoverished standard of living.

      Nebraska Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Nebraska 5.5% 7.5%

      Nebraska Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Nebraska 2.46% 6.64%

      Goods & Services

      Item Lexington National avg. Difference
      Haircut $17.50$24.2627.9%
      Beauty Salon $28.75$45.5636.9%
      Toothpaste $3.67$3.701.0%
      Shampoo $0.98$1.2823.5%
      Movie $9.10$12.1325.0%
      Bowling $11.33$18.0037.0%

      Groceries

      Item Lexington National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $6.66$5.8414.0%
      Fried Chicken $1.41$1.5710.4%
      Milk $4.49$4.674.0%
      Potatoes $4.49$4.939.1%
      Pizza $11.34$12.096.2%
      Beer $9.34$10.4110.3%

      Health Care

      Item Lexington National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $128.50$125.682.2%
      Doctor $139.89$135.783.0%
      Dentist $97.50$113.2913.9%
      Ibuprofen $10.22$10.654.0%
      Lipitor $518.77$468.6010.7%

      Housing

      Item Lexington National avg. Difference
      Home Price $114,500.00$184,700.0038.0%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,926.53$2,346.6917.9%
      Apartment Rent $837.00$949.0011.8%

      Transportation

      Item Lexington National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.36$3.462.9%
      Tire Balancing $55.44$59.927.5%

      Utilities

      Item Lexington National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $126.33$193.9934.9%
      Phone $199.27$192.253.7%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Overton, NE7027722.7%
      Smithfield, NE917822.5%
      Sumner, NE3067921.3%
      Cozad, NE3,7768020.1%
      Elwood, NE6748119.1%
      Lexington, NE10,0698415.8%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Kennett, MO10,0698020.1%
      Española, NM10,071946.5%
      Marina del Rey, CA10,065212111.5%
      Purcellville, VA10,06314444.4%
      Cedartown, GA10,0628614.3%
      Lexington, NE10,0698415.8%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.