Cost of living index

Grand Island, NE

86.7 / 100

Living in Grand Island, NE is 13.3% cheaper than the US average — the #358 of 387 highest nationally.

Median rent: $896/mo

Median home value: $201,600

Figures — including the cost index, median rent, and median home value — cover the wider Grand Island, NE metropolitan area, not individual neighbourhoods or city boundaries.

Winter
38° / 18°F
(3° / -8°C)
2.2 in precip
Spring
63° / 39°F
(17° / 4°C)
8.6 in precip
Summer
86° / 64°F
(30° / 18°C)
10.7 in precip
Fall
65° / 41°F
(18° / 5°C)
5.1 in precip

30-year climate normals (1991–2020) from GRAND ISLAND AP, via NOAA.

The Grand Island, NE metro area has an overall price level of 86.7 compared with the national average of 100, meaning everyday costs run about 13.3% lower than a typical US metro. Housing tells the sharper story: at 61.7 it is 38.3% below the national average. Housing rents are often one of the largest sources of difference between metro areas, so this figure can have a significant impact when comparing locations.

Overall#358 of 387
86.7
Goods#285 of 387
94.1
Housing rents#315 of 387
61.7
Utilities#352 of 387
74.2
Other services#366 of 387
93.0

Grand Island, NE is moved down the most by housing rents, at 61.7 vs a US average of 100, while the closest to average is goods.

Browse Nebraska →See the cheapest and most expensive US metros →

Figures on this page come from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities dataset, 2024 — the most recent year published. An index of 100 marks the national average; a metro above 100 has higher prices than a typical US metro, below 100 lower. Median rent and median home value are from the US Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) 2023 5-year estimates, and seasonal weather is from NOAA’s 1991–2020 climate normals. These are regional figures only, not a complete personal budget — they don’t account for individual spending habits, taxes, or household circumstances. See the full methodology for how the index and salary-equivalent estimates are calculated.

Compare My City is an independent project and is not operated by, endorsed by, or affiliated with the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the Census Bureau, or NOAA.

Is Grand Island, NE an expensive place to live?

Grand Island, NE has an overall cost-of-living index of 86.7, where 100 is the US average. That makes it about 13.3% cheaper than the country as a whole.

Is housing expensive in Grand Island, NE?

Housing rents in Grand Island, NE score 61.7 against a US average of 100 — roughly 38.3% below average. Housing rents are often the main driver of differences in overall price levels between metro areas.

How does Grand Island, NE compare to the US average cost of living?

Overall prices in Grand Island, NE sit at 86.7 versus 100 for the US average, with housing at 61.7. Figures come from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis for 2024.