City comparison
Green Bay, WI vs Lincoln, NE
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Green Bay, WI are 1.6% higher than in Lincoln, NE. Someone earning $100,000 in Lincoln, NE would need about $101,600 in Green Bay, WI to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $931 a month in Green Bay, WI and $926 in Lincoln, NE.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $3,919 a year in WI and $3,670 in NE.
- Both cities are in the same federal pay area (Rest of U.S.), so a GS-13 step 1 earns $106,437 in either. A transfer from Green Bay, WI to Lincoln, NE changes real buying power by +1.6%, purely from prices.
- Green Bay, WI: price level 93.1 (cheaper)
- Lincoln, NE: price level 91.6 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Green Bay, WI | Lincoln, NE | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 93.1 | 91.6 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $98,383 in Lincoln | $101,643 in Green Bay |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $931/mo | $926/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,261 | $75,510 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,919 (WI) | $3,670 (NE) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 15% | 15% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,940 | $49,800 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Green Bay, WI HUD Metro FMR Area and Lincoln, NE HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Green Bay, WI and Lincoln, NE.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Green Bay | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 74.7 | 84.2 |
| Goods | 93.8 | 94.1 |
| Utilities | 90.0 | 76.8 |
| Other services | 99.4 | 93.0 |
| Overall | 93.1 | 91.6 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Green Bay, WI → Lincoln, NE
Roughly even
Buying power +1.6%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax −$249/yr.
74 Strong offer
Lincoln, NE → Green Bay, WI
Roughly even
Buying power −1.6%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax +$249/yr.
64 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Both metros are in the Rest of U.S. locality pay area, so GS salaries are identical. The last column shows what a transfer from Green Bay, WI to Lincoln, NE at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Green Bay, WI | Lincoln, NE | Real change, Green Bay → Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +1.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +1.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +1.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +1.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +1.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Green Bay, WI | Lincoln, NE | Lincoln pay in Green Bay dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $60,600 | $61,940 | $62,958 (+3.9%) |
| Software Developers | $103,160 | $101,690 | $103,361 (+0.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $77,720 | $65,170 | $66,241 (−14.8%) |
| Registered Nurses | $84,700 | $87,530 | $88,968 (+5.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.