How Much Does Off-Campus Housing Cost Near UNL?

UNL off-campus housing cost comes to about $645 a month for a bed in a student apartment, the median starting rate across eight by-the-bed complexes near the University of Nebraska-Lincoln on Find My Place. The cheapest bed is $499 at The Quarters Lincoln, 1.6 miles from campus, and the closest is The Parkhaus at 0.2 miles, from $680. Living alone starts around $910 for a one-bedroom.

Key Takeaways

• $645 a month is the median starting price for a bed in a UNL student complex (October 2026).
• Most beds near UNL start between $499 and $700, a tight range for a college town.
• Close doesn't cost much more here. Seven of the eight by-the-bed complexes sit within 0.8 miles of campus.
• A one-bedroom of your own starts at $910 (Highland View, 2.8 miles out) or $949 closer in at Union at Antelope Valley.
• UNL's cheapest residence hall double is $7,960 for 2026-27, and a meal plan is required on top.
• First-year students have to live on campus unless they qualify for an exemption.

Where These UNL Rent Numbers Come From

We pulled every property on the Find My Place page for UNL off-campus housing in October 2026 and checked each listing for its distance and floor plans. Prices are base rent. None of these properties lists its monthly fees yet, so your real total will be higher.

Lincoln's student complexes rent by the bed, and the numbers prove it. At 8N Lofts, a one-bedroom is $1,525 while a four-bedroom is $665. That only works if the four-bedroom price is per person. Eight complexes follow that pattern. Three others (Highland View, Flats at Leighton District and Union at Antelope Valley) charge more as units get bigger, so their prices are for the whole apartment.

UNL Off-Campus Housing Cost for a Bed in a Student Complex

A bed near UNL costs $499 to $700 a month to start. Here's every by-the-bed complex on FMP's UNL page, cheapest first:

• The Quarters Lincoln, 301 W Charleston St (1.6 mi): $499 in a 4x2.
• Stadium Walk Apartments, 1341 N 9th St (0.8 mi): $509 in a three-bedroom.
• Prime Place Lincoln, 1040 Y St (0.6 mi): $549 in a furnished three-bedroom loft.
• Atmosphere Lincoln, 909 Q St (0.4 mi): $625 in a four-bedroom.
• 8N Lofts, 811 N St (0.6 mi): $665 in a four-bedroom.
• The Parkhaus, 250 N 13th St (0.2 mi): $680, leased by the bedroom.
• LivRed, 921 M St (0.6 mi): $685 in a 4x4.
• Academy Lincoln, 1850 P St (0.4 mi): $700 in a 4x4.

Here's what stands out. In most college towns you pay a lot extra to live next to campus. Not in Lincoln. Atmosphere, 0.4 miles away, starts only $126 above The Quarters, which is four times as far out. Our pick for most students is Stadium Walk: $509 a bed and under a mile from class.

Watch the bedroom count

Bigger units are cheaper per bed almost everywhere on this list. Academy Lincoln charges $935 for a bed in a two-bedroom and $700 in a four-bedroom. Prime Place goes from $999 for a studio to $549 in a three-bedroom loft. One more roommate can save you $200 to $450 a month.

What a One-Bedroom or Whole Apartment Costs Near UNL

Living alone near UNL starts at $910, about $265 a month more than a typical bed. Your options:

• Highland View Apartments, 4441 N 1st St (2.8 mi): one-bedroom $910, two-bedroom $1,120 ($560 each), three-bedroom $1,430 (about $477 each).
• Union at Antelope Valley, 420 S 18th St (0.6 mi): one-bedroom from $949.
• Prime Place Lincoln: studios from $999.
• Flats at Leighton District, 4630 Leighton Ave (2.7 mi): one-bedroom $1,116, two-bedroom $1,533.

Highland View's three-bedroom is the sleeper. Split three ways, it beats every by-the-bed complex except The Quarters. The catch is the 2.8-mile trip, which means a car or the bus.

UNL Off-Campus Housing Cost vs Living on Campus

Off campus is usually cheaper than UNL's residence halls once you count food. UNL's 2026-27 housing and dining rates put a traditional double at $7,960 for the year. Meal plans are required in traditional and suite-style halls, and the cheapest listed plan (Bronze) is $2,060, so the floor is about $10,020. Apartment-style campus housing runs $9,910 to $10,510.

Off campus, a year at the $645 median bed is $7,740. At The Quarters' $499 rate it's $5,988. You'll still buy groceries and pay fees, but you're starting thousands of dollars lower.

First-year students usually can't live off campus

UNL's on-campus residency requirement says all incoming first-year students taking six or more credit hours must live in approved campus housing. Exemptions include turning 19 before the contract start (August 16, 2026 for fall), commuting from a parent's home within 30 miles, or transferring in with 27 or more credit hours. Students who skip it without an exemption get charged for a double room anyway.

Costs Beyond Rent Near UNL

The bus is covered. UNL contracts with StarTran so students ride at no extra cost, using a mobile pass through the Token Transit app, according to a January 2026 UNL Parking and Transit Services notice. If a StarTran route serves the address, a farther-out place like Highland View or The Quarters can work without a car.

Fees aren't covered, and none of the complexes here has posted them on Find My Place yet. Ask about utilities, internet, parking and amenity fees before you compare. For a sanity check, FMP's own estimate for newer downtown units near UNL is $700 to $1,100 a month per bed.

Frequently Asked Questions About UNL Off-Campus Housing Cost

How much is rent near the University of Nebraska-Lincoln?

About $645 a month for a bed in a student complex, the median across eight complexes on Find My Place. Starting prices range from $499 to $700 a bed, and one-bedrooms start at $910.

What is the cheapest off-campus housing near UNL?

The Quarters Lincoln, at $499 a bed in a four-bedroom, 1.6 miles from campus. Stadium Walk Apartments is close behind at $509, just 0.8 miles away.

Is it cheaper to live on or off campus at UNL?

Usually off campus. A UNL double plus the cheapest required meal plan comes to about $10,020 for 2026-27, while a median off-campus bed runs about $7,740 for a full year.

Can UNL freshmen live off campus?

Only with an exemption. UNL requires incoming first-year students to live on campus unless, for example, they turn 19 before the contract starts or live with family within 30 miles.

Do UNL students pay for the city bus?

No. UNL contracts with StarTran so students ride at no additional cost with a Token Transit mobile pass.