salaryRent is higher than in 77% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 5.4 years of household income. Most homes (83.9%) are owned, so rentals can be hard to find.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $88,640 a year. That is $43 an hour at a full-time job.
Is rent cheaper than other California cities?
Yes. Rent here is cheaper than in most of California. It is number 287 of 653 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Lincoln?
Share of households by yearly income. 44.1% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Lincoln
| Size | Lincoln | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| 1 bedroom | $1,367 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,959 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,316 | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $3,299 | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Lincoln overall?
Everyday prices in California overall are 11% above the U.S. average (index 110.7, U.S. = 100).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Lincoln, so the California figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Lincoln
Life in Lincoln
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Lincoln?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $2,301 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $651,000 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $65,100 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Lincoln, CA?
Renting in Lincoln costs a median of about $2,216 a month in 2026, including utilities. The California median is $2,357.
How much do I need to make to live in Lincoln?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $88,640 a year, or $43 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Lincoln cheap or expensive?
Lincoln is rated OK: rent takes 22.0% of the typical household income of $120,781. It ranks 287th cheapest of 653 California cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Lincoln?
The median homeowner in Lincoln pays $6,192 a year in property taxes, about 0.95% of the median home value.
Is Lincoln more expensive than the national average?
Overall prices in California are 11% above the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
How much does a house cost in Lincoln?
The median home value in Lincoln is $651,000, about 5.4 times the typical yearly household income.
52,956 people live in Lincoln. Numbers are typical (middle) values.