City comparison
Lincoln, NE vs Provo, UT
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent, state taxes and federal GS pay.
Key findings
- Prices in Provo, UT are 7.3% higher than in Lincoln, NE. Someone earning $100,000 in Lincoln, NE would need about $107,300 in Provo, UT to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,265 a month in Provo, UT versus $926 in Lincoln, NE. On $100,000, that's 20% of take-home pay in Provo, UT and 15% in Lincoln, NE.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $3,670 a year in NE and $3,534 in UT.
- 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 Provo, UT changes real buying power by −6.8%, purely from prices.
- Lincoln, NE: price level 91.6 (much cheaper)
- Provo, UT: price level 98.2 (about average)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Lincoln, NE | Provo, UT | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.6 | 98.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $107,262 in Provo | $93,229 in Lincoln |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $926/mo | $1,265/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,510 | $75,646 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,670 (NE) | $3,534 (UT) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 15% | 20% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,800 | $48,010 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Lincoln, NE HUD Metro FMR Area and Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT MSA. Metro areas: Lincoln, NE and Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Lincoln | Provo |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 84.2 | 104.1 |
| Goods | 94.1 | 96.4 |
| Utilities | 76.8 | 78.6 |
| Other services | 93.0 | 99.0 |
| Overall | 91.6 | 98.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Lincoln, NE → Provo, UT
Same pay buys less
Buying power −6.8%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax −$136/yr.
48 Fair offer
Provo, UT → Lincoln, NE
Same pay goes further
Buying power +7.3%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax +$136/yr.
91 Strong offer
Federal employees: GS pay
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 Provo, UT at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Lincoln, NE | Provo, UT | Real change, Lincoln → Provo |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | −6.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | −6.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | −6.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | −6.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | −6.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Lincoln, NE | Provo, UT | Provo pay in Lincoln dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Information Security Analysts | $78,190 | $97,430 | $90,833 (+16.2%) |
| Software Developers | $101,690 | $131,210 | $122,326 (+20.3%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $65,170 | $75,700 | $70,575 (+8.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $87,530 | $81,780 | $76,243 (−12.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.