City comparison

Lafayette, LA vs Lincoln, NE

What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.

Key findings

Prices in Lincoln, NE are 5.0% higher than in Lafayette, LA. Someone earning $100,000 in Lafayette, LA would need about $105,000 in Lincoln, NE to live the same way.
Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $898 a month in Lafayette, LA and $926 in Lincoln, NE.
On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,057 a year higher in Lincoln, NE than in Lafayette, 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 Lafayette, LA to Lincoln, NE changes real buying power by −4.8%, purely from prices.

LafayetteLincoln

Price level (U.S. = 100):Under 9292–9898–102102–108Over 108

Lafayette, LA: price level 87.2 (much cheaper)
Lincoln, NE: price level 91.6 (much cheaper)

Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations^9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels².

Side by side

	Lafayette, LA	Lincoln, NE
Price level (U.S. = 100)²	87.2	91.6
$100,000 is worth, in the other city²	$105,013 in Lincoln	$95,226 in Lafayette
Typical 1-bedroom rent³	$898/mo	$926/mo
Take-home on $100,000^14,15,8	$76,566	$75,510
State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)⁸	$2,614 (LA)	$3,670 (NE)
Rent burden on $100,000	14%	15%
Median pay, all jobs⁴	$41,780	$49,800
Federal locality pay area⁷	Rest of U.S.	Rest of U.S.

Rent areas: Lafayette, LA HUD Metro FMR Area and Lincoln, NE HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Lafayette, LA and Lincoln, NE.

What costs more or less

Lafayette, LALincoln, NE

Price level (U.S. = 100)	Lafayette	Lincoln
Housing (rent)	58.8	84.2
Goods	93.7	94.1
Utilities	71.2	76.8
Other services	95.7	93.0
Overall	87.2	91.6

BEA Regional Price Parities². Housing covers rents.

Moving with the same $100,000 salary

Lafayette, LA → Lincoln, NE

Same pay buys less

Buying power −4.8%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax +$1,057/yr.

54 Fair offer

Lincoln, NE → Lafayette, LA

Same pay goes further

Buying power +5.0%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax −$1,057/yr.

84 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 Lafayette, LA to Lincoln, NE at the same grade and step does to real buying power.

Grade^5,2	Lafayette, LA	Lincoln, NE	Real change, Lafayette → Lincoln
GS-9 step 1	$61,722	$61,722	−4.8%
GS-11 step 1	$74,678	$74,678	−4.8%
GS-12 step 1	$89,508	$89,508	−4.8%
GS-13 step 1	$106,437	$106,437	−4.8%
GS-14 step 1	$125,776	$125,776	−4.8%

Pay for common jobs

Median annual pay⁴	Lafayette, LA	Lincoln, NE	Lincoln pay in Lafayette dollars
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education	$47,770	$61,940	$58,983 (+23.5%)
Software Developers	$109,010	$101,690	$96,835 (−11.2%)
Accountants and Auditors	$67,630	$65,170	$62,059 (−8.2%)
Registered Nurses	$81,960	$87,530	$83,351 (+1.7%)

"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.

Taxes are estimates for a single filer taking the standard deduction; city and county income taxes are not included. See the methodology.