Nebraska Rent Affordability
Median rent $1,058/mo. 30% rule needs $42,320/yr income. Rent = 17% of Nebraska median household income.
Max affordable rent by income
| Gross income | Max rent (30%) | Max rent (25% conservative) | vs Nebraska median |
|---|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | $750/mo | $625/mo | 71% of median |
| $40,000 | $1000/mo | $833/mo | 95% of median |
| $50,000 | $1250/mo | $1042/mo | 1.18× median |
| $60,000 | $1500/mo | $1250/mo | 1.42× median |
| $75,000 | $1875/mo | $1563/mo | 1.77× median |
| $100,000 | $2500/mo | $2083/mo | 2.36× median |
| $125,000 | $3125/mo | $2604/mo | 2.95× median |
| $150,000 | $3750/mo | $3125/mo | 3.54× median |
| $200,000 | $5000/mo | $4167/mo | 4.73× median |
Rent vs buy break-even in Nebraska
The annual rent-to-home-price ratio of 5.8% is above 5%, often favoring buying over renting in Nebraska. Rent is high enough that mortgage payments on the median home may be comparable. Run a full break-even with current rates, property tax, and HOA.
Price-to-rent ratio is a heuristic. Full break-even depends on mortgage rate, property tax, maintenance, HOA, transaction costs, and the buyer's expected hold period.
Rent in neighboring states
How Nebraska rent compares to contiguous neighbors. Relocation, remote-work geography, or commute-belt decisions.
| State | Median rent | % of state HH median | Median home | vs NE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nebraska (current) | $1,058 | 17% | $217,800 | — |
| South Dakota | $935 | 16% | $232,000 | -$123 |
| Wyoming | $989 | 16% | $290,700 | -$69 |
| Iowa | $1,011 | 17% | $181,600 | -$47 |
| Kansas | $1,054 | 17% | $198,100 | -$4 |
| Missouri | $1,063 | 19% | $217,600 | +$5 |
| Colorado | $1,726 | 22% | $506,600 | +$668 |
Other states
Common questions
- What is the median rent in Nebraska?
- Nebraska statewide median gross monthly rent is $1,058 (Census ACS 2023 B25064). Metro areas typically run 20-50% above the state median; rural areas 10-25% below. Numbers reflect all renters and bedroom counts combined.
- How much income do I need to afford the median rent in Nebraska?
- Using the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income), you need about $42,320/year. The 25% conservative rule pushes that to $50,784/year. Nebraska median household income is $76,079 — rent eats 17% of typical earners' income.
- Is renting or buying a better deal in Nebraska?
- Rule of thumb: if annual rent < 5% of home price, renting wins. Nebraska ratio: annual rent $12,696 / median home $217,800 = 5.8%. Buying may be favored (rents are high relative to home prices). Full break-even depends on time horizon, mortgage rate, property tax, and HOA.
- Why is rent so much higher in some Nebraska metros than the statewide median?
- State median averages across rural and urban renters. A high-cost metro (LA, NYC, SF, Boston, Seattle, DC) drives metro rent 30-60% above the state number. Use the statewide median for relocation comparison, but expect to pay above-median in any large city.
Full data sources and formulas: /sources.
Estimate only — not financial advice. The 30% rule is a guideline, not a rule. State median hides large city-level variation. Calculate take-home pay in Nebraska →
Sources
Last reviewed: · Beforeview Editorial · editorial policy