City comparison
Lincoln, NE vs Toledo, OH
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Lincoln, NE (91.6) and Toledo, OH (91.5, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Lincoln, NE goes as far as $99,900 in Toledo, OH.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $926 a month in Lincoln, NE versus $820 in Toledo, OH. On $100,000, that's 15% of take-home pay in Lincoln, NE and 13% in Toledo, OH.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,703 a year higher in Lincoln, NE than in Toledo, OH.
- 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 Toledo, OH changes real buying power by +0.1%, purely from prices.
- Lincoln, NE: price level 91.6 (much cheaper)
- Toledo, OH: price level 91.5 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Lincoln, NE | Toledo, OH | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.6 | 91.5 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,862 in Toledo | $100,138 in Lincoln |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $926/mo | $820/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,510 | $77,212 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,670 (NE) | $1,968 (OH) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 15% | 13% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,800 | $48,220 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Lincoln, NE HUD Metro FMR Area and Toledo, OH MSA. Metro areas: Lincoln, NE and Toledo, OH.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Lincoln | Toledo |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 84.2 | 67.3 |
| Goods | 94.1 | 93.6 |
| Utilities | 76.8 | 96.3 |
| Other services | 93.0 | 98.9 |
| Overall | 91.6 | 91.5 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Lincoln, NE → Toledo, OH
Roughly even
Buying power +0.1%; rent takes 13% of take-home; state tax −$1,703/yr.
69 Fair offer
Toledo, OH → Lincoln, NE
Roughly even
Buying power −0.1%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax +$1,703/yr.
68 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 Toledo, OH at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Lincoln, NE | Toledo, OH | Real change, Lincoln → Toledo |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +0.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +0.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +0.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +0.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +0.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Lincoln, NE | Toledo, OH | Toledo pay in Lincoln dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,940 | $63,250 | $63,337 (+2.3%) |
| Software Developers | $101,690 | $104,360 | $104,504 (+2.8%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $65,170 | $77,400 | $77,507 (+18.9%) |
| Registered Nurses | $87,530 | $81,050 | $81,162 (−7.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.