City comparison
Fort Wayne, IN vs Lincoln, NE
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Fort Wayne, IN are 1.1% higher than in Lincoln, NE. Someone earning $100,000 in Lincoln, NE would need about $101,100 in Fort Wayne, IN to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $916 a month in Fort Wayne, IN and $926 in Lincoln, NE.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $750 a year higher in Lincoln, NE than in Fort Wayne, IN.
- 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 Fort Wayne, IN to Lincoln, NE changes real buying power by +1.1%, purely from prices.
- Fort Wayne, IN: price level 92.6 (cheaper)
- Lincoln, NE: price level 91.6 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Fort Wayne, IN | Lincoln, NE | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 92.6 | 91.6 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $98,929 in Lincoln | $101,082 in Fort Wayne |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $916/mo | $926/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,260 | $75,510 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $2,921 (IN) | $3,670 (NE) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 14% | 15% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $47,700 | $49,800 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Fort Wayne, IN HUD Metro FMR Area and Lincoln, NE HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Fort Wayne, IN and Lincoln, NE.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Fort Wayne | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 72.3 | 84.2 |
| Goods | 94.3 | 94.1 |
| Utilities | 86.2 | 76.8 |
| Other services | 99.1 | 93.0 |
| Overall | 92.6 | 91.6 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Fort Wayne, IN → Lincoln, NE
Roughly even
Buying power +1.1%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax +$750/yr.
72 Strong offer
Lincoln, NE → Fort Wayne, IN
Roughly even
Buying power −1.1%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax −$750/yr.
65 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 Fort Wayne, IN to Lincoln, NE at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Fort Wayne, IN | Lincoln, NE | Real change, Fort Wayne → Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +1.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +1.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +1.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +1.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +1.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Fort Wayne, IN | Lincoln, NE | Lincoln pay in Fort Wayne dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $59,800 | $61,940 | $62,610 (+4.7%) |
| Software Developers | $101,560 | $101,690 | $102,790 (+1.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $75,250 | $65,170 | $65,875 (−12.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $79,630 | $87,530 | $88,477 (+11.1%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.