State relocation profile · Federal data
Nebraska
Nebraska sits in the cheaper third of BEA RPP states, rent, wages, safety, schools and childcare below.
- 90.1
- Cost index (US=100)
- $1,001
- 2BR rent / mo
- $68,498
- Median salary
- 61.5
- Life Score
The verdict
As of June 2026, Nebraska ranks #4 of 51 scored US states on the composite Life Score (61.5/100, C), with its strongest marks in cost of living and rent.
- #4 of 51
- Life Score among scored states
- 61.5
- Life Score · C
- 90.1
- Cost of living (US=100)
- $68,498
- Median annual salary (BLS)
Weakest dimension: wages (30/100). State-level figures are a benchmark, individual metros can diverge sharply, so weigh each dimension against your own priorities.
According to PlainRelocate's state Life Score composite (BEA, BLS, HUD, FBI, NCES, DOL, and EPA inputs), Nebraska ranks #4 of 51 scored US states by Life Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 90.1 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $1,001/mo, median salary $68,498; Life Score 61.5/100 (C), strongest in cost of living and rent.
Signature: Life Score 61.5/100 places Nebraska #4 of 51 (top third of scored states).
Purchasing power opens up: BEA RPP 90.1 lands in the cheaper third of US states (cuts at 93.3 / 100.7). HUD 2BR Fair Market Rent averages $1,001/mo statewide, against a BLS median salary of $68,498.
Composite Life Score 61.5/100 (C) puts Nebraska in the top third (#4 of 51).
Metro book is mid-sized (3 MSAs); state averages still hide corridor-level rent and wage gaps.
Life Score plate
Sheet NE · Nebraska 61.5/100 · C · #4 of 51
LIFE-C · RANK-TOP · PHOTO-FINISH · RPP-CHEAP · LEAD-COST · BOOK-FULL
- LIFE-C Life Score C
- RANK-TOP #4/51
- PHOTO-FINISH ±0.0 pts
- RPP-CHEAP RPP 90.1
- LEAD-COST Lead · cost of living
- BOOK-FULL 7/7 dims
Nearest Life Score peer: Louisiana (+ 0.0 pts)
Instrument codes from this state’s Life Score grade, corpus rank, peer gap, BEA RPP posture, lead dimension, and dimension book, not a moving recommendation.
Life Score neighbourhood around Nebraska
Lowest/highest poles plus states nearest Nebraska on composite Life Score. Full ladder: /rankings/.
Nebraska childcare costs
DOL state-average center rates for Nebraska (infant $9,863/yr leads the book).
Nebraska Life Score breakdown
Nebraska composites to 61.5/100 (C) across 7 of 7 dimensions; corpus place #4 of 51.
Nebraska - Life Score dimensions
Percentile vs all US states (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)
- Cost of living
Cost of living
80 /100
- Rent
Rent
78 /100
- Safety
Safety
76 /100
- Environment
Environment
66 /100
- Childcare
Childcare
64 /100
- Schools
Schools
34 /100
- Wages 30
Wages
30 /100
What this shows Nebraska's strongest dimensions are cost of living and rent; its weakest among scored dims is wages at 30/100. Each dimension is a federal-data percentile; the composite folds 7 of 7 into one comparable figure.
States near Nebraska on cost or Life Score
Nearest neighbors to Nebraska on BEA RPP or composite Life Score, a different lens than the in-state metro list below.
Similar cost of living (BEA RPP)
Metros in Nebraska
Explore detailed relocation data for 3 metropolitan areas in Nebraska. Nebraska contains 3 metropolitan statistical areas in our dataset - Grand Island, Lincoln, Omaha - each with its own rent, wage and crime profile that can diverge sharply from the statewide average.
Grand Island metro · Compare metros · Cost vs quality · Methodology
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026
Nebraska cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; Nebraska wages and safety follow BLS OEWS and FBI UCR. Research use only, verify at the agency source before you move.