salaryRent here is among the lowest 10% of all U.S. cities. A typical house costs under 3 years of household income, which is easy by U.S. standards. Commutes are short, about 18.2 minutes.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $37,720 a year. That is $18 an hour at a full-time job.
Is rent cheaper than other Illinois cities?
Yes. Rent here is cheaper than in most of Illinois. It is number 43 of 334 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Lincoln?
Share of households by yearly income. 16.5% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Lincoln
| Size | Lincoln | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| 1 bedroom | $710 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $941 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $968 | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,210 | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Lincoln overall?
Everyday prices in Illinois overall are same as the U.S. average (index 100.0, U.S. = 100).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Lincoln, so the Illinois figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Lincoln
Life in Lincoln
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Lincoln?
Buying is cheaper month to month: about $81 a month less than renting.
Owning assumes a typical $124,300 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $12,430 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Lincoln, IL?
Renting in Lincoln costs a median of about $943 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Illinois median is $1,517.
How much do I need to make to live in Lincoln?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $37,720 a year, or $18 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Lincoln cheap or expensive?
Lincoln is rated Cheap: rent takes 18.3% of the typical household income of $61,841. It ranks 43rd cheapest of 334 Illinois cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Lincoln?
The median homeowner in Lincoln pays $2,209 a year in property taxes, about 1.78% of the median home value.
Is Lincoln more expensive than the national average?
Overall prices in Illinois are same as 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 $124,300, about 2.0 times the typical yearly household income.
13,281 people live in Lincoln. Numbers are typical (middle) values.