True Cost of Renting in Lincoln, NE
Lincoln is Nebraska's state capital and home to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (26,000 students). The combination of state government employment and university demand creates year-round rental market stability. Lincoln Electric System (LES) is municipally owned and historically provides competitive rates. The Haymarket district has been revitalized from a former rail freight depot into Lincoln's dining and entertainment hub.
Neighborhoods & Average Rents
Haymarket District
- Studio:
- $800/mo
- 1 Bed:
- $1,000/mo
- 2 Bed:
- $1,400/mo
Lincoln's revitalized former freight depot; Pinnacle Bank Arena, restaurants, and the Saturday farmers market. LES (Lincoln Electric System) electric at competitive municipal rates. Walkable to state Capitol and UNL campus. New construction apartments mixed with renovated historic buildings.
Near UNL / University Place
- Studio:
- $650/mo
- 1 Bed:
- $850/mo
- 2 Bed:
- $1,200/mo
Student neighborhood adjacent to University of Nebraska-Lincoln; high-density apartment complexes and older rental buildings. StarTran bus service. High summer vacancy — negotiate in May. Lower rents compensate for student-population noise and turnover.
South Lincoln / Williamsburg
- 1 Bed:
- $900/mo
- 2 Bed:
- $1,300/mo
Suburban apartment corridor along South 27th Street; newer complexes with amenities targeting young professionals. Bryan Health and St Elizabeth hospitals nearby. Car-dependent. Most new apartment construction in Lincoln.
Utility Providers
- Electric
- Lincoln Electric System (LES, municipal)
- Water
- City of Lincoln Water System
- Internet
- Cox Communications, Allo Communications, CenturyLink
Commute & Transportation
Lincoln is 55 miles southwest of Omaha on I-80. Lincoln Airport (LNK) has Delta, American, and United hub connections. I-80 connects to Omaha in 50 minutes. University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus is immediately west of Downtown. State government employment anchors the Capitol Mall northeast of Downtown. StarTran provides bus service throughout Lincoln. No light rail. Nebraska Innovation Campus bridges UNL research with industry.
Rental Market Overview
Lincoln offers exceptional value anchored by stable institutional employment. LES (Lincoln Electric System) is a municipally owned utility with rates typically 10–15% below investor-owned utilities ($0.09–0.11/kWh). State government employment means recession-resistant rental demand. UNL creates student rental demand but also year-round faculty and staff demand. Lincoln's Husker football culture means game-day foot traffic, but this doesn't materially affect annual rental costs. A 1BR in the Haymarket at $1,000 with Capitol employment walking distance is one of the best value-per-dollar propositions in any capital city in the US.
Data last updated: 2026-04
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