City comparison
Lincoln, NE vs Shreveport, LA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Lincoln, NE are 8.0% higher than in Shreveport, LA. Someone earning $100,000 in Shreveport, LA would need about $108,000 in Lincoln, NE to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $982 a month in Shreveport, LA versus $926 in Lincoln, NE. On $100,000, that's 15% of take-home pay in Shreveport, LA and 15% in Lincoln, NE.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,057 a year higher in Lincoln, NE than in Shreveport, LA.
- 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 Shreveport, LA changes real buying power by +8.0%, purely from prices.
- Lincoln, NE: price level 91.6 (much cheaper)
- Shreveport, LA: price level 84.8 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Lincoln, NE | Shreveport, LA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.6 | 84.8 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $92,559 in Shreveport | $108,040 in Lincoln |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $926/mo | $982/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,510 | $76,566 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,670 (NE) | $2,614 (LA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 15% | 15% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,800 | $44,820 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Lincoln, NE HUD Metro FMR Area and Shreveport-Bossier City, LA MSA. Metro areas: Lincoln, NE and Shreveport-Bossier City, LA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Lincoln | Shreveport |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 84.2 | 52.3 |
| Goods | 94.1 | 93.7 |
| Utilities | 76.8 | 72.6 |
| Other services | 93.0 | 95.7 |
| Overall | 91.6 | 84.8 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Lincoln, NE → Shreveport, LA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +8.0%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax −$1,057/yr.
94 Strong offer
Shreveport, LA → Lincoln, NE
Same pay buys less
Buying power −7.4%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax +$1,057/yr.
45 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 Shreveport, LA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Lincoln, NE | Shreveport, LA | Real change, Lincoln → Shreveport |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +8.0% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +8.0% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +8.0% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +8.0% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +8.0% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Lincoln, NE | Shreveport, LA | Shreveport pay in Lincoln dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,940 | $61,850 | $66,823 (+7.9%) |
| Software Developers | $101,690 | $96,680 | $104,453 (+2.7%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $65,170 | $70,420 | $76,082 (+16.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $87,530 | $80,080 | $86,518 (−1.2%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.