City comparison
Lincoln, NE vs Minneapolis, MN
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Minneapolis, MN are 14.5% higher than in Lincoln, NE. Someone earning $100,000 in Lincoln, NE would need about $114,500 in Minneapolis, MN to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,405 a month in Minneapolis, MN versus $926 in Lincoln, NE. On $100,000, that's 23% of take-home pay in Minneapolis, MN and 15% in Lincoln, NE.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,606 a year higher in Minneapolis, MN than in Lincoln, NE.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +9.0% moving from Lincoln, NE to Minneapolis, MN ($106,437 → $116,038), while prices change by +14.5%. Net effect of the transfer: −4.8% in real buying power.
- Lincoln, NE: price level 91.6 (much cheaper)
- Minneapolis, MN: price level 104.8 (pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Lincoln, NE | Minneapolis, MN | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.6 | 104.8 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $114,458 in Minneapolis | $87,368 in Lincoln |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $926/mo | $1,405/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,510 | $73,903 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,670 (NE) | $5,277 (MN) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 15% | 23% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,800 | $59,320 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI |
Rent areas: Lincoln, NE HUD Metro FMR Area and Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Lincoln, NE and Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Lincoln | Minneapolis |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 84.2 | 111.8 |
| Goods | 94.1 | 103.1 |
| Utilities | 76.8 | 93.5 |
| Other services | 93.0 | 104.4 |
| Overall | 91.6 | 104.8 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Lincoln, NE → Minneapolis, MN
Same pay buys less
Buying power −12.6%; rent takes 23% of take-home; state tax +$1,606/yr.
38 Weak offer
Minneapolis, MN → Lincoln, NE
Same pay goes further
Buying power +14.5%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax −$1,606/yr.
100 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Lincoln, NE is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Minneapolis, MN is in Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI. The last column shows what a transfer from Lincoln, NE to Minneapolis, MN at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Lincoln, NE | Minneapolis, MN | Real change, Lincoln → Minneapolis |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $67,290 | −4.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $81,415 | −4.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $97,582 | −4.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $116,038 | −4.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $137,123 | −4.7% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Lincoln, NE | Minneapolis, MN | Minneapolis pay in Lincoln dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,940 | $79,730 | $69,659 (+12.5%) |
| Software Developers | $101,690 | $130,920 | $114,382 (+12.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $65,170 | $86,500 | $75,573 (+16.0%) |
| Registered Nurses | $87,530 | $103,040 | $90,024 (+2.8%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.