City comparison
Lincoln, NE vs Syracuse, NY
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Syracuse, NY are 4.5% higher than in Lincoln, NE. Someone earning $100,000 in Lincoln, NE would need about $104,500 in Syracuse, NY to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,123 a month in Syracuse, NY versus $926 in Lincoln, NE. On $100,000, that's 18% of take-home pay in Syracuse, NY and 15% in Lincoln, NE.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,189 a year higher in Syracuse, NY 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 Syracuse, NY changes real buying power by −4.3%, purely from prices.
- Lincoln, NE: price level 91.6 (much cheaper)
- Syracuse, NY: price level 95.7 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Lincoln, NE | Syracuse, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.6 | 95.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $104,544 in Syracuse | $95,654 in Lincoln |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $926/mo | $1,123/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,510 | $74,320 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,670 (NE) | $4,860 (NY) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 15% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,800 | $52,990 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Lincoln, NE HUD Metro FMR Area and Syracuse, NY MSA. Metro areas: Lincoln, NE and Syracuse, NY.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Lincoln | Syracuse |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 84.2 | 80.7 |
| Goods | 94.1 | 99.7 |
| Utilities | 76.8 | 133.4 |
| Other services | 93.0 | 97.8 |
| Overall | 91.6 | 95.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Lincoln, NE → Syracuse, NY
Same pay buys less
Buying power −4.3%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$1,189/yr.
55 Fair offer
Syracuse, NY → Lincoln, NE
Same pay goes further
Buying power +4.5%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax −$1,189/yr.
83 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 Syracuse, NY at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Lincoln, NE | Syracuse, NY | Real change, Lincoln → Syracuse |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | −4.3% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | −4.3% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | −4.3% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | −4.3% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | −4.3% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Lincoln, NE | Syracuse, NY | Syracuse pay in Lincoln dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,940 | $78,560 | $75,146 (+21.3%) |
| Software Developers | $101,690 | $129,100 | $123,489 (+21.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $65,170 | $82,230 | $78,656 (+20.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $87,530 | $86,960 | $83,181 (−5.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.