City comparison
Lincoln, NE vs Little Rock, AR
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Lincoln, NE are 2.5% higher than in Little Rock, AR. Someone earning $100,000 in Little Rock, AR would need about $102,500 in Lincoln, NE to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $989 a month in Little Rock, AR versus $926 in Lincoln, NE. On $100,000, that's 16% of take-home pay in Little Rock, AR and 15% in Lincoln, NE.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $3,670 a year in NE and $3,687 in AR.
- 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 Lincoln, NE to Little Rock, AR changes real buying power by +2.5%, purely from prices.
- Lincoln, NE: price level 91.6 (much cheaper)
- Little Rock, AR: price level 89.4 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Lincoln, NE | Little Rock, AR | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.6 | 89.4 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $97,579 in Little Rock | $102,481 in Lincoln |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $926/mo | $989/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,510 | $75,493 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,670 (NE) | $3,687 (AR) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 15% | 16% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,800 | $45,790 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Lincoln, NE HUD Metro FMR Area and Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Lincoln, NE and Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Lincoln | Little Rock |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 84.2 | 68.3 |
| Goods | 94.1 | 93.6 |
| Utilities | 76.8 | 74.6 |
| Other services | 93.0 | 95.3 |
| Overall | 91.6 | 89.4 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Lincoln, NE → Little Rock, AR
Same pay goes further
Buying power +2.5%; rent takes 16% of take-home; state tax +$17/yr.
77 Strong offer
Little Rock, AR → Lincoln, NE
Same pay buys less
Buying power −2.4%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax −$17/yr.
61 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 Lincoln, NE to Little Rock, AR at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Lincoln, NE | Little Rock, AR | Real change, Lincoln → Little Rock |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +2.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +2.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +2.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +2.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +2.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Lincoln, NE | Little Rock, AR | Little Rock pay in Lincoln dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,940 | $58,580 | $60,033 (−3.1%) |
| Software Developers | $101,690 | $104,070 | $106,652 (+4.9%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $65,170 | $65,810 | $67,443 (+3.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $87,530 | $81,070 | $83,081 (−5.1%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.