States › Nebraska › Ralston

Is Ralston, NE expensive to live in?

OKRent takes 21 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$1,31425% lower than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$74,851about $6,238/month · 14% lower than U.S. average
🔑 House price$230,80031% lower than U.S. average

Rent is lower than in 68% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 3.1 years of household income.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $52,560 a year. That is $25 an hour at a full-time job.

Is rent cheaper than other Nebraska cities?

No. Rent here is more expensive than in most of Nebraska. It is number 25 of 34 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Ralston
$1,314
Sidney
$906
Schuyler
$1,160
Plattsmouth
$766
Wayne
$847
Offutt AFB
$1,928
McCook
$910

How much do households earn in Ralston?

Under $25k
9.6%
$25k–50k
27.9%
$50k–100k
34.2%
$100k–150k
18.1%
$150k+
7.2%

Share of households by yearly income. 25.3% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in Ralston

SizeRalstonU.S. average
Studio$961$1,338
1 bedroom$1,197$1,324
2 bedrooms$1,456$1,509
3 bedrooms$1,542$1,698
4 bedrooms$1,844$2,098

Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.

How expensive is Ralston overall?

Everyday prices in Nebraska overall are 10% below the U.S. average (index 90.1, U.S. = 100).

Housing
75
Goods (food, clothes…)
94
Utilities
76
Other services
93
U.S. average
100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Ralston, so the Nebraska figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Ralston

🏛️ Property tax$4,177a year · 1.81% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$130a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Ralston

Commute to work20 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree26.8%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home63.3%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line4%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment2.2%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Ralston?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $287 a month less.

Renting
$1,314
Owning
$1,601

Owning assumes a typical $230,800 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $23,080 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Ralston, NE?

Renting in Ralston costs a median of about $1,314 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Nebraska median is $1,096.

How much do I need to make to live in Ralston?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $52,560 a year, or $25 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Ralston cheap or expensive?

Ralston is rated OK: rent takes 21.1% of the typical household income of $74,851. It ranks 25th cheapest of 34 Nebraska cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Ralston?

The median homeowner in Ralston pays $4,177 a year in property taxes, about 1.81% of the median home value.

Is Ralston more expensive than the national average?

Overall prices in Nebraska are 10% below the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

How much does a house cost in Ralston?

The median home value in Ralston is $230,800, about 3.1 times the typical yearly household income.

6,472 people live in Ralston. Numbers are typical (middle) values.