City comparison
Lincoln, NE vs Memphis, TN
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Lincoln, NE (91.6) and Memphis, TN (92.2, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Lincoln, NE goes as far as $100,700 in Memphis, TN.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,154 a month in Memphis, TN versus $926 in Lincoln, NE. On $100,000, that's 17% of take-home pay in Memphis, TN and 15% in Lincoln, NE.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,670 a year higher in Lincoln, NE than in Memphis, TN.
- 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 Memphis, TN changes real buying power by −0.6%, purely from prices.
- Lincoln, NE: price level 91.6 (much cheaper)
- Memphis, TN: price level 92.2 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Lincoln, NE | Memphis, TN | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.6 | 92.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,653 in Memphis | $99,351 in Lincoln |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $926/mo | $1,154/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,510 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,670 (NE) | $0 (TN) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 15% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,800 | $46,890 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Lincoln, NE HUD Metro FMR Area and Memphis, TN-MS-AR HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Lincoln, NE and Memphis, TN-MS-AR.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Lincoln | Memphis |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 84.2 | 79.8 |
| Goods | 94.1 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 76.8 | 74.1 |
| Other services | 93.0 | 95.4 |
| Overall | 91.6 | 92.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Lincoln, NE → Memphis, TN
Roughly even
Buying power −0.6%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$3,670/yr.
67 Fair offer
Memphis, TN → Lincoln, NE
Roughly even
Buying power +0.7%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax +$3,670/yr.
71 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 Memphis, TN at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Lincoln, NE | Memphis, TN | Real change, Lincoln → Memphis |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | −0.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | −0.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | −0.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | −0.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | −0.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Lincoln, NE | Memphis, TN | Memphis pay in Lincoln dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,940 | $61,510 | $61,111 (−1.3%) |
| Software Developers | $101,690 | $125,580 | $124,765 (+22.7%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $65,170 | $76,960 | $76,461 (+17.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $87,530 | $81,500 | $80,971 (−7.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.