Cost of Living in Kearney, NE

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An Overview of Cost of Living in Kearney, NE

The cost of living in Kearney affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Kearney is 92, which is 8% lower than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.

Everyday expenditures like food, housing, goods and services, transportation and health care in Kearney are priced in a manner consistent with other areas. This means that residents of Kearney can anticipate their daily expenses remaining reasonably similar to those in an average city, thereby supporting a manageable cost of living.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Kearney?

The most insightful perspective on a city comes from its residents. We recently surveyed 92 locals to gauge their perception of the cost of living in Kearney. The feedback revealed that 79% of respondents found the cost of living to be reasonable, with prices on the decline, while 21% regarded it as notably expensive with prices that continue to rise.

Is Kearney Affordable?

Is Kearney affordable? This is a pivotal question, especially when mulling over a move, as affordability carries substantial weight in your decision-making process. Factors such as the cost of living index (discussed earlier), housing expenses and income levels all contribute to a location's affordability. For instance, in Kearney, the median home price is 2.2% higher than the national average and monthly rent prices are 16.4% lower than the typical rates. Additionally, the median income levels play a role in affordability, with Kearney boasting a median household income of $60,755, 9.8% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Kearney?

Healthcare: Healthcare expenses and insurance premiums can vary significantly depending on the specific city or state. Factors such as accessibility to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor's visits, dental care expenses, prescription costs and specialized medical care fees can all influence the overall cost of living. In Kearney, healthcare costs are 2.6% lower than the national average.

Taxes: Cities that impose higher taxes, including sales and income taxes, can contribute to an escalated cost of living. The added expense of taxes on everyday goods like clothing and food naturally results in higher overall costs. Similarly, a higher income tax rate can further elevate the cost of living. In Kearney, the general sales tax rate starts at 5.5%, and income tax rates begin at 2.46%.

Transportation: If public transportation is limited or not available, residents may need to own and maintain vehicles, which can add to the cost of living. Gas, insurance, regular maintenance and potentially lease or finance payments will all need to be paid on a monthly basis. In Kearney, the transportation index is 4.3% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Kearney cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. Published on a quarterly basis, it compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services. These items have been meticulously selected to represent various consumer expenditure categories, in 6 categories. Weightings assigned to cost differentials draw from government survey data tracking spending patterns among professional and executive households. While the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Kearney

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Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

A good way to judge both the affordability of the housing and the cost of living in Kearney is by simply calculating the maximum that should be spent on housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The plan is to avoid spending more than 28 percent of the gross income on costs that pertain to housing and no more than 36 percent on all expenses and debts. Kearney has a median income of about $83,113 for people who own homes. Based on that number, a maximum of $1,939 should be spent on expenses related to housing. Renters have a slightly different median income, which is $32,466. Based on this average, renters should spend no more than $757 on all rental costs if they want to maintain a non-impoverished standard of living.

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Nebraska Income Tax

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Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.