City comparison
Lincoln, NE vs Winston, NC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Lincoln, NE (91.6) and Winston, NC (92.0, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Lincoln, NE goes as far as $100,500 in Winston, NC.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,082 a month in Winston, NC versus $926 in Lincoln, NE. On $100,000, that's 17% of take-home pay in Winston, NC and 15% in Lincoln, NE.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $3,670 a year in NE and $3,481 in NC.
- 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 Winston, NC changes real buying power by −0.5%, purely from prices.
- Lincoln, NE: price level 91.6 (much cheaper)
- Winston, NC: price level 92.0 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Lincoln, NE | Winston, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.6 | 92.0 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,504 in Winston | $99,498 in Lincoln |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $926/mo | $1,082/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,510 | $75,699 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,670 (NE) | $3,481 (NC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 15% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,800 | $46,380 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Lincoln, NE HUD Metro FMR Area and Winston-Salem, NC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Lincoln, NE and Winston-Salem, NC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Lincoln | Winston |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 84.2 | 71.4 |
| Goods | 94.1 | 96.6 |
| Utilities | 76.8 | 88.4 |
| Other services | 93.0 | 98.2 |
| Overall | 91.6 | 92.0 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Lincoln, NE → Winston, NC
Roughly even
Buying power −0.5%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$189/yr.
67 Fair offer
Winston, NC → Lincoln, NE
Roughly even
Buying power +0.5%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax +$189/yr.
70 Strong 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 Winston, NC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Lincoln, NE | Winston, NC | Real change, Lincoln → Winston |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | −0.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | −0.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | −0.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | −0.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | −0.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Lincoln, NE | Winston, NC | Winston pay in Lincoln dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,940 | $56,510 | $56,226 (−9.2%) |
| Software Developers | $101,690 | $124,130 | $123,507 (+21.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $65,170 | $78,950 | $78,554 (+20.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $87,530 | $86,120 | $85,688 (−2.1%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.