City comparison
Lakeland, FL vs Lincoln, NE
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Lakeland, FL are 6.1% higher than in Lincoln, NE. Someone earning $100,000 in Lincoln, NE would need about $106,100 in Lakeland, FL to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,230 a month in Lakeland, FL versus $926 in Lincoln, NE. On $100,000, that's 19% of take-home pay in Lakeland, FL and 15% in Lincoln, NE.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,670 a year higher in Lincoln, NE than in Lakeland, FL.
- 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 Lakeland, FL to Lincoln, NE changes real buying power by +6.1%, purely from prices.
- Lakeland, FL: price level 97.1 (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
| Lakeland, FL | Lincoln, NE | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 97.1 | 91.6 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $94,276 in Lincoln | $106,071 in Lakeland |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,230/mo | $926/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $75,510 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (FL) | $3,670 (NE) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 15% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,140 | $49,800 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL MSA and Lincoln, NE HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL and Lincoln, NE.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Lakeland | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 95.9 | 84.2 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 94.1 |
| Utilities | 86.9 | 76.8 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 93.0 |
| Overall | 97.1 | 91.6 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Lakeland, FL → Lincoln, NE
Same pay goes further
Buying power +6.1%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax +$3,670/yr.
88 Strong offer
Lincoln, NE → Lakeland, FL
Same pay buys less
Buying power −5.7%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax −$3,670/yr.
51 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 Lakeland, FL to Lincoln, NE at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Lakeland, FL | Lincoln, NE | Real change, Lakeland → Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +6.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +6.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +6.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +6.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +6.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Lakeland, FL | Lincoln, NE | Lincoln pay in Lakeland dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $50,420 | $61,940 | $65,700 (+30.3%) |
| Software Developers | $122,200 | $101,690 | $107,864 (−11.7%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,820 | $65,170 | $69,127 (−10.0%) |
| Registered Nurses | $84,030 | $87,530 | $92,844 (+10.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.