City comparison
Lincoln, NE vs Salem, OR
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Salem, OR are 13.2% higher than in Lincoln, NE. Someone earning $100,000 in Lincoln, NE would need about $113,200 in Salem, OR to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,201 a month in Salem, OR versus $926 in Lincoln, NE. On $100,000, that's 20% of take-home pay in Salem, OR and 15% in Lincoln, NE.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $4,250 a year higher in Salem, OR than in Lincoln, NE.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +7.7% moving from Lincoln, NE to Salem, OR ($106,437 → $114,684), while prices change by +13.2%. Net effect of the transfer: −4.8% in real buying power.
- Lincoln, NE: price level 91.6 (much cheaper)
- Salem, OR: price level 103.6 (pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Lincoln, NE | Salem, OR | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.6 | 103.6 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $113,177 in Salem | $88,357 in Lincoln |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $926/mo | $1,201/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,510 | $71,260 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,670 (NE) | $7,920 (OR) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 15% | 20% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,800 | $55,310 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA |
Rent areas: Lincoln, NE HUD Metro FMR Area and Salem, OR MSA. Metro areas: Lincoln, NE and Salem, OR.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Lincoln | Salem |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 84.2 | 110.3 |
| Goods | 94.1 | 105.3 |
| Utilities | 76.8 | 104.7 |
| Other services | 93.0 | 100.3 |
| Overall | 91.6 | 103.6 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Lincoln, NE → Salem, OR
Same pay buys less
Buying power −11.6%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax +$4,250/yr.
38 Weak offer
Salem, OR → Lincoln, NE
Same pay goes further
Buying power +13.2%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax −$4,250/yr.
100 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Lincoln, NE is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Salem, OR is in Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA. The last column shows what a transfer from Lincoln, NE to Salem, OR at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Lincoln, NE | Salem, OR | Real change, Lincoln → Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $66,505 | −4.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $80,465 | −4.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $96,443 | −4.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $114,684 | −4.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $135,522 | −4.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Lincoln, NE | Salem, OR | Salem pay in Lincoln dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,940 | $74,810 | $66,100 (+6.7%) |
| Software Developers | $101,690 | $131,620 | $116,295 (+14.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $65,170 | $87,480 | $77,295 (+18.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $87,530 | $131,750 | $116,410 (+33.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.