City comparison
Lincoln, NE vs Roanoke, VA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Roanoke, VA are 2.2% higher than in Lincoln, NE. Someone earning $100,000 in Lincoln, NE would need about $102,200 in Roanoke, VA to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,053 a month in Roanoke, VA versus $926 in Lincoln, NE. On $100,000, that's 17% of take-home pay in Roanoke, VA and 15% in Lincoln, NE.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,265 a year higher in Roanoke, VA than in Lincoln, NE.
- 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 Roanoke, VA changes real buying power by −2.2%, purely from prices.
- Lincoln, NE: price level 91.6 (much cheaper)
- Roanoke, VA: price level 93.6 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Lincoln, NE | Roanoke, VA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.6 | 93.6 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $102,224 in Roanoke | $97,824 in Lincoln |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $926/mo | $1,053/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,510 | $74,244 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,670 (NE) | $4,936 (VA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 15% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,800 | $47,140 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Lincoln, NE HUD Metro FMR Area and Roanoke, VA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Lincoln, NE and Roanoke, VA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Lincoln | Roanoke |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 84.2 | 78.5 |
| Goods | 94.1 | 96.8 |
| Utilities | 76.8 | 88.9 |
| Other services | 93.0 | 98.6 |
| Overall | 91.6 | 93.6 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Lincoln, NE → Roanoke, VA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −2.2%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$1,265/yr.
62 Fair offer
Roanoke, VA → Lincoln, NE
Same pay goes further
Buying power +2.2%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax −$1,265/yr.
76 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 Roanoke, VA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Lincoln, NE | Roanoke, VA | Real change, Lincoln → Roanoke |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | −2.2% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | −2.2% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | −2.2% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | −2.2% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | −2.2% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Lincoln, NE | Roanoke, VA | Roanoke pay in Lincoln dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,940 | $62,010 | $60,661 (−2.1%) |
| Software Developers | $101,690 | $121,110 | $118,475 (+16.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $65,170 | $77,240 | $75,559 (+15.9%) |
| Registered Nurses | $87,530 | $80,090 | $78,347 (−10.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.