Is $20,000 a good salary in Nebraska?

$20,000 in Nebraska provides a monthly take-home of approximately $1,446 after taxes. Across major Nebraska cities, this salary is rated not recommended, with an average monthly surplus of $-759.

What is the cost of living on $20,000 in Nebraska?

The average monthly living cost across major Nebraska cities is approximately $2,205 for a single adult (rent, food, transport, utilities, healthcare). On $20,000 take-home pay of $1,446/month, you would have roughly $-759/month remaining.

Living in Nebraska · 2026

Is $20,000 enough to live in Nebraska?

Single adult · NE · 2026 tax brackets · Real cost-of-living data

Statewide verdict:Not recommended

Monthly take-home

$1,446

Avg monthly expenses

$2,205

Avg monthly surplus

$-759

Savings potential

~0%

After-tax take-home in Nebraska

Gross salary$20,000

Federal income tax− $450

State income tax− $663

Social Security− $1,240

Medicare− $290

Annual take-home$17,357

Effective tax rate13.21%

How $20,000 feels in Nebraska cities

Rent: HUD FMR 2026 · Food: USDA Low-Cost Plan × COL · Transport/Utilities/Healthcare: BLS CES × COL

Omaha

COL index: 0.95× national avg

Not recommended

Rent (1BR)

$1,200

Food

$409

Transport

$166

Utilities

$157

Healthcare

$190

Total: $2,122/mo

Surplus: $-676/mo

Rent burden: 83.0% — Unaffordable (> 50%)

Full Omaha analysis →

Lincoln

COL index: 0.93× national avg

Not recommended

Rent (1BR)

$1,100

Food

$405

Transport

$163

Utilities

$153

Healthcare

$186

Total: $2,007/mo

Surplus: $-561/mo

Rent burden: 76.1% — Unaffordable (> 50%)

Full Lincoln analysis →

Bellevue

COL index: 1.68× national avg

Not recommended

Rent (1BR)

$2,600

Food

$418

Transport

$294

Utilities

$277

Healthcare

$336

Total: $3,925/mo

Surplus: $-2,479/mo

Rent burden: 179.8% — Unaffordable (> 50%)

Full Bellevue analysis →

Grand Island

COL index: 0.83× national avg

Very tight

Rent (1BR)

$900

Food

$387

Transport

$145

Utilities

$137

Healthcare

$166

Total: $1,735/mo

Surplus: $-289/mo

Rent burden: 62.2% — Unaffordable (> 50%)

Full Grand Island analysis →

Kearney

COL index: 0.82× national avg

Very tight

Rent (1BR)

$880

Food

$383

Transport

$144

Utilities

$135

Healthcare

$164

Total: $1,706/mo

Surplus: $-260/mo

Rent burden: 60.8% — Unaffordable (> 50%)

Full Kearney analysis →

Fremont

COL index: 0.83× national avg

Very tight

Rent (1BR)

$900

Food

$387

Transport

$145

Utilities

$137

Healthcare

$166

Total: $1,735/mo

Surplus: $-289/mo

Rent burden: 62.2% — Unaffordable (> 50%)

Full Fremont analysis →

50 / 30 / 20 Budget Planner

Based on your monthly take-home of $1,446 ($17,352/yr)

Needs 50%Wants 30%Savings 20%

Needs50%

$723

per month

›Rent / mortgage
›Groceries
›Utilities
›Insurance
›Minimum debt payments
›Transportation

Wants30%

$434

per month

›Dining out
›Streaming services
›Gym
›Hobbies
›Travel
›Shopping

Savings20%

$289

per month

›Emergency fund
›401(k) / IRA
›Investments
›Down payment fund
›Debt payoff (extra)

Needs / year

$8,676

Wants / year

$5,206

Savings / year

$3,470

Salary Intelligence

Financial pressure in Omaha

Rent alone would take 83% of take-home income. This salary creates significant financial pressure in this city — a $48,000 annual income or lower rent is needed to reach affordability.

Lifestyle score: 2.1/10 (Difficult)

Lifestyle Assessment

A $20,000 salary does not fully cover typical living expenses for a single adult in Omaha, Nebraska. Monthly costs exceed take-home pay by $676, indicating this income is insufficient for an independent lifestyle here without additional income or reduced spending.

Purchasing Power

Omaha is near the national cost-of-living average (index: 0.95). $20,000 here is roughly equivalent to $38,947 in San Francisco or $18,526 in an affordable city like Birmingham.

State & National Benchmark

$20,000 is 54% below the Nebraska individual median of $43,200. Consider negotiating a higher salary or exploring higher-paying roles in this state.

State individual median

$43,200

-54%

State household median

$74,594

-73%

Tax reduction strategies

Maximize 401(k) Contributions — Up to $5,170 in federal tax (22% bracket)

Contribute to a Traditional IRA — Up to $1,540 in federal tax (22% bracket)

$20,000 vs. Nebraska income benchmarks

Individual median (Nebraska)

$43,200

-54% vs. this salary

Household median (Nebraska)

$74,594

-73% vs. this salary

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 2023

Related salary insights

Explore other salary levels in Nebraska

$40,000 $60,000 $100,000 $150,000 $200,000 $300,000

Reviewed by

Finance Editor

CPA, 10+ years in personal finance

Data Sources

•Tax calculations: IRS federal tax tables
•Rent data: HUD Fair Market Rents
•Cost-of-living index: C2ER / ACCRA Cost of Living Index

Data updated monthly using government datasets.