City comparison
Hickory, NC vs Lincoln, NE
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Lincoln, NE are 3.5% higher than in Hickory, NC. Someone earning $100,000 in Hickory, NC would need about $103,500 in Lincoln, NE to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $908 a month in Hickory, NC and $926 in Lincoln, NE.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $3,481 a year in NC and $3,670 in NE.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −2.2% moving from Hickory, NC to Lincoln, NE ($108,810 → $106,437), while prices change by +3.5%. Net effect of the transfer: −5.5% in real buying power.
- Hickory, NC: price level 88.5 (much 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
| Hickory, NC | Lincoln, NE | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 88.5 | 91.6 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $103,498 in Lincoln | $96,620 in Hickory |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $908/mo | $926/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,699 | $75,510 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,481 (NC) | $3,670 (NE) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 14% | 15% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $45,220 | $49,800 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC MSA and Lincoln, NE HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC and Lincoln, NE.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Hickory | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 59.6 | 84.2 |
| Goods | 96.6 | 94.1 |
| Utilities | 87.8 | 76.8 |
| Other services | 98.2 | 93.0 |
| Overall | 88.5 | 91.6 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Hickory, NC → Lincoln, NE
Same pay buys less
Buying power −3.4%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax +$189/yr.
58 Fair offer
Lincoln, NE → Hickory, NC
Same pay goes further
Buying power +3.5%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax −$189/yr.
80 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Hickory, NC is in the Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC pay area; Lincoln, NE is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Hickory, NC to Lincoln, NE at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Hickory, NC | Lincoln, NE | Real change, Hickory → Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $63,098 | $61,722 | −5.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $76,343 | $74,678 | −5.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $91,503 | $89,508 | −5.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $108,810 | $106,437 | −5.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $128,581 | $125,776 | −5.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Hickory, NC | Lincoln, NE | Lincoln pay in Hickory dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $49,540 | $61,940 | $59,847 (+20.8%) |
| Software Developers | $122,540 | $101,690 | $98,253 (−19.8%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $77,490 | $65,170 | $62,968 (−18.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $80,060 | $87,530 | $84,572 (+5.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.