City comparison
Lincoln, NE vs Mobile, AL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Lincoln, NE are 4.0% higher than in Mobile, AL. Someone earning $100,000 in Mobile, AL would need about $104,000 in Lincoln, NE to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $926 a month in Lincoln, NE and $919 in Mobile, AL.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,065 a year higher in Mobile, AL than in Lincoln, 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 Lincoln, NE to Mobile, AL changes real buying power by +4.0%, purely from prices.
- Lincoln, NE: price level 91.6 (much cheaper)
- Mobile, AL: price level 88.1 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Lincoln, NE | Mobile, AL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.6 | 88.1 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $96,197 in Mobile | $103,954 in Lincoln |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $926/mo | $919/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,510 | $74,445 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,670 (NE) | $4,735 (AL) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 15% | 15% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,800 | $47,000 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Lincoln, NE HUD Metro FMR Area and Mobile, AL MSA. Metro areas: Lincoln, NE and Mobile, AL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Lincoln | Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 84.2 | 60.1 |
| Goods | 94.1 | 96.4 |
| Utilities | 76.8 | 84.2 |
| Other services | 93.0 | 96.7 |
| Overall | 91.6 | 88.1 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Lincoln, NE → Mobile, AL
Same pay goes further
Buying power +4.0%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax +$1,065/yr.
81 Strong offer
Mobile, AL → Lincoln, NE
Same pay buys less
Buying power −3.8%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax −$1,065/yr.
57 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 Mobile, AL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Lincoln, NE | Mobile, AL | Real change, Lincoln → Mobile |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +4.0% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +4.0% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +4.0% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +4.0% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +4.0% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Lincoln, NE | Mobile, AL | Mobile pay in Lincoln dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,940 | $60,970 | $63,380 (+2.3%) |
| Software Developers | $101,690 | $122,540 | $127,385 (+25.3%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $65,170 | $72,130 | $74,982 (+15.1%) |
| Registered Nurses | $87,530 | $79,490 | $82,633 (−5.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.